God’s justice will prevail for those committing evil, but grace and mercy are also available to those who turn to Him.
Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s three friends, speaks these words during his second speech to Job. Historically, Zophar’s background places him somewhere in the patriarchal period (circa 2000-1800 BC), though there is no universally agreed-upon date. The friends have gathered around Job to explain or interpret the suffering that Job is experiencing, and in this particular address, Zophar declares dire consequences for those who forsake godliness. He is convinced that wickedness is always punished and believes Job should acknowledge some hidden sin. This viewpoint fits Zophar’s consistent message throughout the book: that God repays evil quickly and certainly in this current life.
Near the close of his speech Zophar warns, “…the heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.” Then he states, “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the inheritance decreed to him by God.” (v.29) In other words, Zophar is certain that divine judgment on the wicked is guaranteed. God, in His sovereignty, will settle accounts against those who practice evil. Zophar uses the word “inheritance” to emphasize that shame, loss, and judgment are not random events but what the unjust person earns for himself. Although Zophar’s belief in a quick retribution is simplistic—especially as the larger message of Job shows that the righteous also can suffer—he underscores the truth that wickedness places one under God’s righteous justice.
From a broader biblical viewpoint, the idea that wrongdoing reaps dire consequences is echoed throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23), and God’s final judgment is indeed certain. However, Job’s entire situation reveals that human assumptions, as voiced by Zophar and the other friends, can be mistaken if they presume all suffering is caused by personal sin. Ultimately, the book of Job culminates in God revealing His higher purposes and demonstrating that His ways are beyond human apprehension.
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Job 20:29 meaning
Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s three friends, speaks these words during his second speech to Job. Historically, Zophar’s background places him somewhere in the patriarchal period (circa 2000-1800 BC), though there is no universally agreed-upon date. The friends have gathered around Job to explain or interpret the suffering that Job is experiencing, and in this particular address, Zophar declares dire consequences for those who forsake godliness. He is convinced that wickedness is always punished and believes Job should acknowledge some hidden sin. This viewpoint fits Zophar’s consistent message throughout the book: that God repays evil quickly and certainly in this current life.
Near the close of his speech Zophar warns, “…the heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.” Then he states, “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, Even the inheritance decreed to him by God.” (v.29) In other words, Zophar is certain that divine judgment on the wicked is guaranteed. God, in His sovereignty, will settle accounts against those who practice evil. Zophar uses the word “inheritance” to emphasize that shame, loss, and judgment are not random events but what the unjust person earns for himself. Although Zophar’s belief in a quick retribution is simplistic—especially as the larger message of Job shows that the righteous also can suffer—he underscores the truth that wickedness places one under God’s righteous justice.
From a broader biblical viewpoint, the idea that wrongdoing reaps dire consequences is echoed throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23), and God’s final judgment is indeed certain. However, Job’s entire situation reveals that human assumptions, as voiced by Zophar and the other friends, can be mistaken if they presume all suffering is caused by personal sin. Ultimately, the book of Job culminates in God revealing His higher purposes and demonstrating that His ways are beyond human apprehension.