Job 20:16 - Exposition

He shall suck the poison of asps . Probably Zophar does not affix any very distinct meaning to his threats. He is content to utter a series of fierce-sounding but vague menaces, which he knows that Job will regard as launched against himself, and does not care whether they are taken metaphorically or literally. Job will be equally distressed in either ease. The viper's tongue shall slay him . It is really the viper's tooth , and not his tongue , that slays; but Zophar is not, any more than Job ( Job 27:18 ), an accomplished naturalist.