Material prosperity quickly crumbles when it is pursued without reverence for God and compassion for others.
Zophar, one of Job’s friends living in the ancient patriarchal era (commonly estimated around 2000-1800 BC), continues his speech to highlight the ultimate ruin of the wicked when he says, “Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.” (Job 20:21). In the broader context of this discourse, Zophar is countering Job’s insistence on his own innocence by painting a vivid picture of how the proud and unrighteous cannot hold onto their wealth. He stresses that when someone accumulates riches through selfish or corrupt means, there will come a time when everything is exhausted, leaving the oppressor with nothing. Although the speaker’s tone is harsh, it demonstrates an ancient perspective that divine justice will eventually catch up with wrongdoing.
When Zophar declares, “Nothing remains for him to devour,” (Job 20:21) he implies that the one he addresses has consumed resources beyond measure, offering no regard for the well-being of others. This consumption-focused individual stands in contrast to the biblical call to generosity and care for the vulnerable (Hebrews 13:16). In Zophar’s view, such a person and his greed inevitably create a personal collapse—there is nothing left to sustain him, physically or spiritually. Thus, the words reinforce the idea that the disappearance of material assets can reveal the emptiness that greed fosters.
Zophar’s concluding statement, “Therefore his prosperity does not endure,” (Job 20:21) ties directly to the fleeting nature of wealth gained apart from God’s righteousness. Other passages across Scripture echo this theme—Jesus teaches that those who store up treasures for themselves without being rich toward God will face eternal consequences (Luke 12:19-21). In the same way, Zophar portrays short-lived success as an inevitable end. The failure of such prosperity invites readers to reflect on a life grounded in humility, surrender to God, and the pursuit of lasting spiritual treasure.
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Job 20:21 meaning
Zophar, one of Job’s friends living in the ancient patriarchal era (commonly estimated around 2000-1800 BC), continues his speech to highlight the ultimate ruin of the wicked when he says, “Nothing remains for him to devour, Therefore his prosperity does not endure.” (Job 20:21). In the broader context of this discourse, Zophar is countering Job’s insistence on his own innocence by painting a vivid picture of how the proud and unrighteous cannot hold onto their wealth. He stresses that when someone accumulates riches through selfish or corrupt means, there will come a time when everything is exhausted, leaving the oppressor with nothing. Although the speaker’s tone is harsh, it demonstrates an ancient perspective that divine justice will eventually catch up with wrongdoing.
When Zophar declares, “Nothing remains for him to devour,” (Job 20:21) he implies that the one he addresses has consumed resources beyond measure, offering no regard for the well-being of others. This consumption-focused individual stands in contrast to the biblical call to generosity and care for the vulnerable (Hebrews 13:16). In Zophar’s view, such a person and his greed inevitably create a personal collapse—there is nothing left to sustain him, physically or spiritually. Thus, the words reinforce the idea that the disappearance of material assets can reveal the emptiness that greed fosters.
Zophar’s concluding statement, “Therefore his prosperity does not endure,” (Job 20:21) ties directly to the fleeting nature of wealth gained apart from God’s righteousness. Other passages across Scripture echo this theme—Jesus teaches that those who store up treasures for themselves without being rich toward God will face eternal consequences (Luke 12:19-21). In the same way, Zophar portrays short-lived success as an inevitable end. The failure of such prosperity invites readers to reflect on a life grounded in humility, surrender to God, and the pursuit of lasting spiritual treasure.