Job 20:22
Job 20:22 in Multiple Translations
In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
Even when the wicked have all that they want they run into trouble; all kinds of misery will fall upon them.
When he shalbe filled with his abundance, he shalbe in paine, and the hand of all the wicked shall assaile him.
In the fulness of his sufficiency he is straitened. Every perverse hand doth meet him.
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him.
In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
When he shall be filled, he shall be straitened, he shall burn, and every sorrow shall fall upon him.
When they are extremely prosperous/wealthy, they will suddenly experience a lot of trouble. ◄Misery will strike them and crush them [PRS]/They will suffer very greatly►.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 20:22
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 20:22 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בִּ/מְלֹ֣אות
שִׂ֭פְק/וֹ
יֵ֣צֶר
ל֑/וֹ
כָּל
יַ֖ד
עָמֵ֣ל
תְּבוֹאֶֽ/נּוּ
בִּ/מְלֹ֣אות
mâlêʼ
H4390
to fill
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
שִׂ֭פְק/וֹ
çêpheq
H5607
mockery
N-ms | Suff
יֵ֣צֶר
yâtsar
H3334
be distressed
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
ל֑/וֹ
Prep | Suff
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
יַ֖ד
yâd
H3027
hand
N-cs
עָמֵ֣ל
ʻâmêl
H6001
labour(er)
Adj
תְּבוֹאֶֽ/נּוּ
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 20:22
בִּ/מְלֹ֣אות
mâlêʼ
H4390
"to fill"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
To fill means to make something full or complete, like filling a container or fulfilling a promise. This word is used in many contexts, including being full of joy or having a job completed.
Definition: 1) to fill, be full 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be full 1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle) 1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended 1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied 1b2) to be accomplished, be ended 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to fill 1c2) to satisfy 1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete 1c4) to confirm 1d) (Pual) to be filled 1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)
Usage: Occurs in 242 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. See also: Genesis 1:22; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Psalms 10:7.
שִׂ֭פְק/וֹ
çêpheq
H5607
"mockery"
N-ms | Suff
This noun means sufficiency or having enough of something. It can also refer to chastisement or punishment. The KJV translates it as 'stroke, sufficiency'.
Definition: handclapping, mocking, mockery, scorn
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: stroke, sufficiency. See also: Job 20:22; Job 36:18.
יֵ֣צֶר
yâtsar
H3334
"be distressed"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This word describes being in distress or a tight spot, like being narrow or cramped. It's used in the Bible to describe difficult situations, such as in Psalm 119:143.
Definition: 1) to bind, be distressed, be in distress, be cramped, be narrow, be scant, be in straits, make narrow, cause distress, beseige 1a) (Qal) to suffer distress
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: be distressed, be narrow, be straitened (in straits), be vexed. See also: Genesis 32:8; Nehemiah 9:27; Proverbs 4:12.
ל֑/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
יַ֖ד
yâd
H3027
"hand"
N-cs
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Definition: : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists
Usage: Occurs in 1446 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 14:22.
עָמֵ֣ל
ʻâmêl
H6001
"labour(er)"
Adj
This word describes someone who is laboring or sorrowful, like a worker or a person in misery. It appears in the Bible to describe people who are struggling or suffering.
Definition: 1) labourer, sufferer, wretched one 1a) labourer, workman 1b) sufferer
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman. See also: Judges 5:26; Ecclesiastes 2:18; Proverbs 16:26.
תְּבוֹאֶֽ/נּוּ
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
Study Notes — Job 20:22
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 20:22 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 20:22
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:22
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:22
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:22
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 20:22
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:22
- Cambridge Bible on Job 20:22
- Barnes' Notes on Job 20:22
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:22
- Sermons on Job 20:22
Context — Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked
20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.
21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.
22In the midst of his plenty, he will be distressed; the full force of misery will come upon him.
23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats. 24Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce him.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:29 | He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land. |
| 2 | Revelation 18:7 | As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’ |
| 3 | 2 Kings 24:2 | And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets. |
| 4 | Psalms 39:5 | You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah |
| 5 | Job 18:7 | His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up. |
| 6 | Isaiah 10:6 | I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. |
| 7 | Ecclesiastes 2:18–20 | I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. |
| 8 | Job 1:17 | While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” |
| 9 | Job 16:11 | God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked. |
| 10 | Job 3:17 | There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest. |
Job 20:22 Summary
[This verse is saying that even when we have a lot of stuff, we can still feel unhappy or unfulfilled. This is because true happiness and fulfillment come from knowing and loving God, not just from having a lot of possessions. As it says in Psalm 16:11, 'in Your presence is fullness of joy', and in Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus teaches us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'distressed in the midst of plenty'?
This phrase, found in Job 20:22, indicates that even when someone has an abundance of material possessions or wealth, they can still experience emotional or spiritual distress, as seen in Ecclesiastes 2:26, where it says that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and accumulating only to give it to the one who pleases God.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's judgment?
The full force of misery coming upon someone, as mentioned in Job 20:22, is a picture of God's judgment, similar to what is described in Psalm 7:11, where God is a just judge who saves the upright in heart, but is angry with the wicked every day.
Is this verse saying that wealth is inherently bad?
No, this verse is not condemning wealth itself, but rather highlighting the emptiness and distress that can come from prioritizing wealth above a relationship with God, as seen in Matthew 19:21, where Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this verse by recognizing that true fulfillment and joy come from a relationship with God, not just from material possessions, as stated in 1 Timothy 6:6-7, where it says that godliness with contentment is great gain.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be prioritizing wealth or material possessions above my relationship with God?
- How can I cultivate a sense of contentment and joy in my life, regardless of my circumstances?
- What are some ways that I can use my resources to bless others and bring glory to God?
- In what ways might I be experiencing 'distress in the midst of plenty', and how can I turn to God for comfort and guidance?
Gill's Exposition on Job 20:22
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits,.... For though he may not only have a sufficient competency to live upon, but even a fulness of temporal blessings, have as much as heart can
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:22
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. Shall be - rather, 'he is (feeleth) straitened' (Umbreit). The next clause explains in what respect.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:22
In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; i.e. the height of prosperity and abundance he shall be distressed and tormented, either by the horrors of an unquiet mind and guilty conscience, which makes him every moment expect Divine vengeance to fall upon his head; or rather, because of the sudden and unexpected assault of other men combining against him, and spoiling all his goods, as it follows. Every hand of the wicked, who lives by injury and the spoiling of others, and by God’ s providence are directed to fall upon him. Or, of the labourer, whose wages possibly he hath detained; or, of such as are in trouble or misery, as this word signifies, , who may jointly invade him, either because their necessity tempts and drives them to spoil others; or rather, because they were such as had been brought into their calamity by his oppressions, and therefore now take reparations from him.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:22
Job 20:22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.Ver. 22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits] The covetous man never hath a sufficiency (but is as greedily gasping still after more, as if he were not worth a halfpenny), much less a fulness of sufficiency, a superfluity, a superabundance. Whatsoever Esau pretended in his, "I have enough, my brother," Genesis 33:9, Jacob could indeed say truly, I have enough, Genesis 33:11, for godliness only hath an autarchy, 1 Timothy 6:6. True piety hath true plenty, and is never without a well contenting sufficiency, wherein the good man is, when in the fulness of straits. See it in David, 1 Samuel 30:6, in Habakkuk, Habakkuk 3:16-17, in Paul, 2 Corinthians 6:10 Philippians 4:11, he had nothing, and yet possessed all things. But that which Zophar here drives at, is to show that the oppressor shall be ruined when at highest, and when he least looketh for it; as was Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Belshazzar, Babylon the Great, Revelation 18:7-8. How was Alexander the Great surprised at a feast! Caesar in the senate house! many of the emperors in their own palaces! &c. Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him] Or, of the labourer, whose wages he hath detained. Or, of the poor oppressed, whom he hath forced to labour hard for a poor living.
Broughton rendereth it, Each hand of the injured and grieved shall come upon him; and so he shall have many fists about his ears, many ready to rifle him and to pull a fleece from him.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 20:22
(22) The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him: i.e., in retaliation, or possibly, but less probably, every blow of a miserable man, which can render a man miserable, shall come upon him.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:22
Verse 22. In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits] This is a fine saying, and few of the menders of Job's text have been able to improve the version. It is literally true of every great, rich, wicked man; he has no God, and anxieties and perplexities torment him, notwithstanding he has his portion in this life. Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.] All kinds of misery shall be his portion. Coverdale translates: Though he had plenteousnesse of every thinge, yet was he poore; and, therefore, he is but a wretch on every syde.
Cambridge Bible on Job 20:22
22. In the moment of his great abundance his straitness comes suddenly upon him. every hand of the wicked] Rather, of the wretched (ch. Job 3:20, him that is in misery). All those in destitution, and the lawless, both those whom he has oppressed and those perhaps who make common cause with them, shall rise up against him and make him their prey. The picture is similar to that drawn by Eliphaz, ch. Job 5:5.
Barnes' Notes on Job 20:22
In the fulness of his sufficiency - When he seems to have an abundance. He shall be in straits - Either by the dread of calamity, or because calamity shall come suddenly upon him, and his property shall be swept away.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:22
22. The wicked — òîì, wretched. Covetousness, which is the idolatry of wealth, shrivels the soul, and converts the imagination into an engine of terror.
Sermons on Job 20:22
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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An Inquiry After Truth and Righteousness, and After the People, &C. by Isaac Penington | Greek Word Studies for an aid_number 34478 preaches on the significance of mourning over sin, emphasizing the need for genuine confession, repentance, and sorrow. The preacher high |
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Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot emphasizes the importance of singing as a delightful part of worship bestowed by God to show forth His praise. He reflects on the original purpose of singing and how s |
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No Room for Vanity and Pride by Joshua Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the fleeting nature of human achievements and the vanity of worldly success, drawing from Psalms 39 and the story of King Nebuchadnezzar. It highlights the i |
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1 Thessalonians 4:13 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the importance of understanding the doctrine of the Resurrection to banish grief and sorrow, emphasizing that even those who have fallen asleep in Je |
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Vanities Social and Political. 4:1-16 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the preacher reflects on the endless cycle of vanity and hopelessness that plagues humanity. He observes the oppression and suffering in the world, l |
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Remember—you Are but Mortal! by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the fleeting nature of human life, urging listeners to reflect on the brevity of their existence as highlighted in Psalm 39:5. He challenges the audience t |
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All Shadow and Vanity by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound emptiness of worldly pursuits, echoing Solomon's declaration that all is vanity. He illustrates that the pleasures and achievements of this li |