God’s just judgment will consume those who remain apart from His guidance.
Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, continues to describe the destiny of the wicked by declaring, “He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.” (v.30) In this poetic language, “darkness” symbolizes a state of calamity or divine judgment, implying utter hopelessness for the one who stands in opposition to God. Eliphaz wants Job to understand that a life lived without righteousness will ultimately face ruin. When he warns that the wicked “will not escape,” he underscores God’s sovereign power over all circumstances; these words communicate that one cannot simply flee the consequences of unjust actions. Moreover, the “flame” that “withers his shoots” vividly pictures the inevitable consequences and destruction of sinful lifestyles, as though everything that once thrived in a person’s life will be burned away because it lacks the roots of genuine devotion.
In the final clause, “And by the breath of His mouth he will go away” (v.30), Eliphaz depicts God’s active role in bringing judgment upon injustice, as though the slightest expression of divine power is sufficient to remove the wicked from their place. The word “breath” further highlights how God’s power is fundamentally different from mere human strength—His transcendent authority can instantly overthrow opposition. Although Eliphaz is specifically addressing Job’s suffering in the broader conversation, the sentiment that wrongdoing breeds destruction echoes throughout Scripture, taught repeatedly to caution those who ignore righteousness (Galatians 6:7). In the broader biblical narrative, the ultimate rescue from darkness is found in Christ (John 8:12), who offers light and deliverance that darkness cannot overcome.
The seriousness of the warning in “He will not escape from darkness” (v.30) is meant to encourage both humility and repentance. When we remember the Lord’s judgment portrayed in these verses, we are reminded that sin brings real consequences, but also that God desires to redeem and restore. Eliphaz’s statements, while directed at Job, ultimately reflect a universal spiritual principle: no one escapes spiritual death by their own power, but through repentance and reliance on the grace of God, deliverance is available (Romans 6:23).
Set to dark mode
Job 15:30 meaning
Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, continues to describe the destiny of the wicked by declaring, “He will not escape from darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.” (v.30) In this poetic language, “darkness” symbolizes a state of calamity or divine judgment, implying utter hopelessness for the one who stands in opposition to God. Eliphaz wants Job to understand that a life lived without righteousness will ultimately face ruin. When he warns that the wicked “will not escape,” he underscores God’s sovereign power over all circumstances; these words communicate that one cannot simply flee the consequences of unjust actions. Moreover, the “flame” that “withers his shoots” vividly pictures the inevitable consequences and destruction of sinful lifestyles, as though everything that once thrived in a person’s life will be burned away because it lacks the roots of genuine devotion.
In the final clause, “And by the breath of His mouth he will go away” (v.30), Eliphaz depicts God’s active role in bringing judgment upon injustice, as though the slightest expression of divine power is sufficient to remove the wicked from their place. The word “breath” further highlights how God’s power is fundamentally different from mere human strength—His transcendent authority can instantly overthrow opposition. Although Eliphaz is specifically addressing Job’s suffering in the broader conversation, the sentiment that wrongdoing breeds destruction echoes throughout Scripture, taught repeatedly to caution those who ignore righteousness (Galatians 6:7). In the broader biblical narrative, the ultimate rescue from darkness is found in Christ (John 8:12), who offers light and deliverance that darkness cannot overcome.
The seriousness of the warning in “He will not escape from darkness” (v.30) is meant to encourage both humility and repentance. When we remember the Lord’s judgment portrayed in these verses, we are reminded that sin brings real consequences, but also that God desires to redeem and restore. Eliphaz’s statements, while directed at Job, ultimately reflect a universal spiritual principle: no one escapes spiritual death by their own power, but through repentance and reliance on the grace of God, deliverance is available (Romans 6:23).