Job 20:19 reminds us that injustice and exploitation carry their own consequences, leaving the oppressor without a lasting foundation.
“For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.” (v.19) In this passage, spoken by Zophar (one of Job’s friends), the speaker describes a wicked person who gains wealth and property through unjust means. By emphasizing that such a person “has oppressed and forsaken the poor,” Zophar highlights a moral failure that runs counter to God’s heart for justice and compassion. Throughout scripture, oppressing the vulnerable is a serious offense, and Zophar underscores the foolishness of believing ill-gotten gains will offer lasting security.
The statement “He has seized a house which he has not built” (v.19) reinforces the idea that greed will lead someone to take from others what they themselves did not labor to produce. According to Zophar, God sees these actions and will ultimately bring them to ruin. This theme resonates with the broader biblical warnings that the wealth of the wicked is often short-lived, and that those who exploit the defenseless will face inevitable judgment (Psalm 37:7-10; James 5:1-6).
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Job 20:19 meaning
“For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.” (v.19) In this passage, spoken by Zophar (one of Job’s friends), the speaker describes a wicked person who gains wealth and property through unjust means. By emphasizing that such a person “has oppressed and forsaken the poor,” Zophar highlights a moral failure that runs counter to God’s heart for justice and compassion. Throughout scripture, oppressing the vulnerable is a serious offense, and Zophar underscores the foolishness of believing ill-gotten gains will offer lasting security.
The statement “He has seized a house which he has not built” (v.19) reinforces the idea that greed will lead someone to take from others what they themselves did not labor to produce. According to Zophar, God sees these actions and will ultimately bring them to ruin. This theme resonates with the broader biblical warnings that the wealth of the wicked is often short-lived, and that those who exploit the defenseless will face inevitable judgment (Psalm 37:7-10; James 5:1-6).