Job 20:12-29 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:10-22

The instances here given of the miserable condition of the wicked man in this world are expressed with great fulness and fluency of language, and the same thing returned to again and repeated in other words. Let us therefore reduce the particulars to their proper heads, and observe, I. What his wickedness is for which he is punished. 1. The lusts of the flesh, here called the sins of his youth (Job 20:11); for those are the sins which, at that age, people are most tempted to. The forbidden... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:23-29

Zophar, having described the many embarrassments and vexations which commonly attend the wicked practices of oppressors and cruel men, here comes to show their utter ruin at last. I. Their ruin will take its rise from God's wrath and vengeance, Job 20:23. The hand of the wicked was upon him (Job 20:22), every hand of the wicked. His hand was against every one, and therefore every man's hand will be against him. Yet, in grappling with these, he might go near to make his part good; but his heart... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:12

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth ,.... Which may respect some particular sin, and by the context it seems to be the sin of covetousness, or of getting riches in an unlawful way, which is very sweet and pleasing to wicked men, while they are in such pursuits that succeed; and so Mr. Broughton renders it by "wrong"; though it may be applied to sin in general, which is "wickedness", or an evil F17 רעה "malum", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.; ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:13

Though he spare it ,.... Not that he feeds sparingly on it, for he eats of it freely and plentifully, with great eagerness and greediness; it designs the gratefulness of it to him; he does not spit it out as loathsome, having tasted of it, but retains it as sweet and pleasant; he spares it as Saul did Agag, and as a man spares his only son; sin being a child, a brat of a wicked man, and therefore it is dear unto him: and forsake it not : as he never will, until he is fully convinced of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:14

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned ,.... Or "his bread" F18 לחמו "panis ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Beza, Schmidt. , to which sin is compared, being what the sinner lives in, and lives upon; what he strengthens himself in and with, and by which he is nourished unto the day of slaughter, and by means of which he grows and proceeds to more ungodliness, though in the issue he comes into starving and famishing circumstances; for this is bread of deceit, and proves to be ashes and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:15

He hath swallowed down riches ,.... Not his own, but another's, which he has spoiled him of and devoured, with as much eagerness, pleasure, and delight, as a hungry man swallows down his food; having an excessive and immoderate love of riches, and an insatiable desire after them, which make him stop at nothing, though ever so illicit, to obtain them; and when he has got them into his possession, thinks them as safe as the food in his belly, and never once dreams of refunding them, which yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:16

He shall suck the poison of asps ,.... Or "the head of asps" F21 ראש פתנים "caput aspidum", V. L. Montanus. ; for their poison lies in their heads, particularly in their "teeth" F23 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37. Aelian. Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 4. ; or rather is a liquor in the gums, yellow like oil F24 Philosoph. Transact. ut supra. (abridged, vol. 2. p. 819.) ; according to Pliny F25 Ib. c. 62. , in copulation the male puts his head into the mouth of the female,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:17

He shall not see the rivers ,.... Of water, or meet with any to assuage his thirst, which poison excites, and so makes a man wish for water, and desire large quantities; but this shall not be granted the wicked man; this might be illustrated in the case of the rich man in hell, who desired a drop of cold water to cool his tongue, but could not have it, Luke 16:24 ; though rather plenty of good things is here intended, see Isaiah 48:18 ; as also the following expressions: the floods,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:18

That which he laboured for shall he restore ,.... This explains what was before figuratively expressed by vomiting, Job 20:15 ; and is to be interpreted either of that which another laboured for; so the Targum paraphrases it, "another's labour;' and Mr. Broughton renders it, "he shall restore what man's pain get": and then the sense is, that that which another got by his labour, coming by some means or another into the hand of this rapacious, covetous, wicked man, he shall be obliged... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:19

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor ,.... Having oppressed, crushed, and broken the poor to pieces, he leaves them so without pity and compassion for them, and without giving them any relief; he first by oppression makes them poor, or however poorer still, and then leaves them in such circumstances; for this does not suppose that he once was a favourer of them, and afforded them assistance in their necessities, and afterwards forsook them; but rather, as Ben Gersom gives... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:10-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:23-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:19

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