That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary? (Job 20:5). Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s friends, is the speaker here in Job chapter 20. He makes an argument that the seeming prosperity and “triumphing” of those who do evil is only fleeting. Zophar warns that the wicked person’s apparent success has a short shelf life. In this part of the dialogue, Zophar contrasts temporary earthly success with the ultimate, eternal reality of accountability before God. Zophar’s point is that God will judge wrongdoing in time, despite how glorious or satisfying evil might seem in the moment.
Zophar’s speech is part of the back-and-forth between Job and his friends, where the friends repeatedly insist that Job has done something wrong deserving of God’s judgment (Job 4—31). This assumption is rooted in their belief that God must always punish sin immediately in this life, while immediately rewarding virtue (Job 4:7-9, 8:5-7). Here, Zophar says, “the triumphing of the wicked is short” and “the joy of the godless momentary” (Job 20:5). In other words, any comfort that comes from forsaking God and pursuing evil is very temporary. This passage serves as a perpetual reminder that evil does not pay off in the long run. Even if the wicked experience a seeming victory, Zophar says the results they reap will be brief. This foreshadows later Bible teachings, such as when Jesus warns, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). The central idea remains: any perceived advantage from godlessness is destined to be short-lived.
Zophar’s assessment, however, is incomplete in that he applies this principle as though it must happen at once in Job’s life. Though Zophar is partly right that the wicked will not prosper indefinitely, Job’s story reveals that suffering does not always arise from secret sin. The entire setting of the book of Job involves God proving to Satan that Job’s righteousness is genuine (Job 1-2). Job indeed endures suffering, but not because he is wicked. Zophar’s mistake is to assume that only the person who does evil experiences affliction. Still, as a general principle, the idea that the “joy” of the godless is a short-lived phenomenon remains true. Ultimately, justice is not bound by our timetable, and God alone sees all ends (Proverbs 24:19-20).
The wicked cannot boast an enduring victory; sooner or later, reality overtakes them.
That God will bring justice means that any short-lived victory by the wicked pales in comparison to the eternal perspective of God’s goodness.
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Job 20:5 meaning
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary? (Job 20:5). Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s friends, is the speaker here in Job chapter 20. He makes an argument that the seeming prosperity and “triumphing” of those who do evil is only fleeting. Zophar warns that the wicked person’s apparent success has a short shelf life. In this part of the dialogue, Zophar contrasts temporary earthly success with the ultimate, eternal reality of accountability before God. Zophar’s point is that God will judge wrongdoing in time, despite how glorious or satisfying evil might seem in the moment.
Zophar’s speech is part of the back-and-forth between Job and his friends, where the friends repeatedly insist that Job has done something wrong deserving of God’s judgment (Job 4—31). This assumption is rooted in their belief that God must always punish sin immediately in this life, while immediately rewarding virtue (Job 4:7-9, 8:5-7). Here, Zophar says, “the triumphing of the wicked is short” and “the joy of the godless momentary” (Job 20:5). In other words, any comfort that comes from forsaking God and pursuing evil is very temporary. This passage serves as a perpetual reminder that evil does not pay off in the long run. Even if the wicked experience a seeming victory, Zophar says the results they reap will be brief. This foreshadows later Bible teachings, such as when Jesus warns, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). The central idea remains: any perceived advantage from godlessness is destined to be short-lived.
Zophar’s assessment, however, is incomplete in that he applies this principle as though it must happen at once in Job’s life. Though Zophar is partly right that the wicked will not prosper indefinitely, Job’s story reveals that suffering does not always arise from secret sin. The entire setting of the book of Job involves God proving to Satan that Job’s righteousness is genuine (Job 1-2). Job indeed endures suffering, but not because he is wicked. Zophar’s mistake is to assume that only the person who does evil experiences affliction. Still, as a general principle, the idea that the “joy” of the godless is a short-lived phenomenon remains true. Ultimately, justice is not bound by our timetable, and God alone sees all ends (Proverbs 24:19-20).
The wicked cannot boast an enduring victory; sooner or later, reality overtakes them.
That God will bring justice means that any short-lived victory by the wicked pales in comparison to the eternal perspective of God’s goodness.