This verse underscores the universal truth that sin, once cherished, will corrupt a person from the inside out, leaving them tainted and suffering under its consequences.
Zophar, one of Job’s friends from the patriarchal period (roughly 2100-1800 BC), is speaking here, emphasizing the eventual judgment that awaits the wicked. He declares that “Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him” (v.14), using a vivid image that implies even what the wicked man consumes—what he thinks he possesses or enjoys—will ultimately become toxic to him. The imagery of cobra venom illustrates the deadly outcome of sinfulness: it may initially seem harmless or even pleasurable, but it transforms into something lethal, symbolizing the disastrous consequences of evil choices.
Job’s friend implies that the sustenance of a sinful life never leads to real nourishment. Instead, “Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him” (v.14) underscores how self-indulgence or ill-gotten gain can turn rancid, poisoning a person’s life from within. This idea connects with the Scriptural principle that wrongdoing eventually yields destructive results, as seen in Galatians 6:7. Although Zophar’s counsel can be harsh, it is rooted in the belief that God’s justice will ultimately expose and judge wickedness, removing the superficial sweetness that accompanies sin and revealing it to be deadly in the end.
Set to dark mode
Job 20:14 meaning
Zophar, one of Job’s friends from the patriarchal period (roughly 2100-1800 BC), is speaking here, emphasizing the eventual judgment that awaits the wicked. He declares that “Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him” (v.14), using a vivid image that implies even what the wicked man consumes—what he thinks he possesses or enjoys—will ultimately become toxic to him. The imagery of cobra venom illustrates the deadly outcome of sinfulness: it may initially seem harmless or even pleasurable, but it transforms into something lethal, symbolizing the disastrous consequences of evil choices.
Job’s friend implies that the sustenance of a sinful life never leads to real nourishment. Instead, “Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him” (v.14) underscores how self-indulgence or ill-gotten gain can turn rancid, poisoning a person’s life from within. This idea connects with the Scriptural principle that wrongdoing eventually yields destructive results, as seen in Galatians 6:7. Although Zophar’s counsel can be harsh, it is rooted in the belief that God’s justice will ultimately expose and judge wickedness, removing the superficial sweetness that accompanies sin and revealing it to be deadly in the end.