Job 20:23
Job 20:23 in Multiple Translations
When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
While they are busy filling their bellies, God's hostility will burn against them, raining down on them.
He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall sende vpon him his fierce wrath, and shall cause to rayne vpon him, euen vpon his meate.
It cometh to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sendeth forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Yea, He raineth on him in his eating.
When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
May his belly be filled, that God may send forth the wrath of his indignation upon him, and rain down his war upon him.
When the wicked people are filling their stomachs, God will show that he is very angry with them and punish them; the punishment that he gives them will be like [MET] rain falling on them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 20:23
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 20:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יְהִ֤י
לְ/מַלֵּ֬א
בִטְנ֗/וֹ
יְֽשַׁלַּח
בּ֭/וֹ
חֲר֣וֹן
אַפּ֑/וֹ
וְ/יַמְטֵ֥ר
עָ֝לֵ֗י/מוֹ
בִּ/לְחוּמֽ/וֹ
יְהִ֤י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
לְ/מַלֵּ֬א
mâlêʼ
H4390
to fill
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
בִטְנ֗/וֹ
beṭen
H990
belly
N-fs | Suff
יְֽשַׁלַּח
shâlach
H7971
to send
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
בּ֭/וֹ
Prep | Suff
חֲר֣וֹן
chârôwn
H2740
burning anger
N-ms
אַפּ֑/וֹ
ʼaph
H639
face
N-ms | Suff
וְ/יַמְטֵ֥ר
mâṭar
H4305
to rain
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
עָ֝לֵ֗י/מוֹ
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
בִּ/לְחוּמֽ/וֹ
lâchûwm
H3894
intestine
Prep | N-ms | 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 20:23
יְהִ֤י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/מַלֵּ֬א
mâlêʼ
H4390
"to fill"
Prep | V-Piel-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.
בִטְנ֗/וֹ
beṭen
H990
"belly"
N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to the belly or womb, and is used to describe the seat of hunger, emotions, and even the depths of the afterlife. It is used in the Bible to describe the body and its functions. The KJV translates it as belly, body, or womb.
Definition: : abdomen 1) belly, womb, body 1a) belly, abdomen 1a1) as seat of hunger 1a2) as seat of mental faculties 1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.) 1b) womb
Usage: Occurs in 72 OT verses. KJV: belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb. See also: Genesis 25:23; Psalms 22:10; Psalms 17:14.
יְֽשַׁלַּח
shâlach
H7971
"to send"
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Definition: : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send
Usage: Occurs in 790 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 9:27; Joshua 14:11.
בּ֭/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
חֲר֣וֹן
chârôwn
H2740
"burning anger"
N-ms
This Hebrew word describes God's burning anger or fierce wrath, often used in the Bible to convey His intense emotions. It is used to describe God's anger towards sin and disobedience, and appears in various translations as sore displeasure or fury. This word emphasizes the seriousness of God's emotions.
Definition: 1) anger, heat, burning (of anger) 1a) always used of God's anger
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: sore displeasure, fierce(-ness), fury, (fierce) wrath(-ful). See also: Exodus 15:7; Psalms 88:17; Psalms 2:5.
אַפּ֑/וֹ
ʼaph
H639
"face"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Definition: : face 1) nostril, nose, face 2) anger
Usage: Occurs in 269 OT verses. KJV: anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. See also: Genesis 2:7; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalms 2:5.
וְ/יַמְטֵ֥ר
mâṭar
H4305
"to rain"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to send rain or cause it to rain, often used to describe God's power over the weather. It appears in the Bible to describe rain, hail, or other forms of precipitation. This word is used in various contexts, including the story of Noah's flood.
Definition: 1) to rain 1a) (Niphal) to be rained on or upon 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to rain, send rain 1b2) to rain hail, send hail
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: (cause to) rain (upon). See also: Genesis 2:5; Job 38:26; Psalms 11:6.
עָ֝לֵ֗י/מוֹ
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
בִּ/לְחוּמֽ/וֹ
lâchûwm
H3894
"intestine"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word refers to the intestines or bowels, but can also mean food or something eaten. It appears in Leviticus and other books to describe the body or what we consume. It is a term for the inner parts of the body or what nourishes us.
Definition: 1) intestines, bowels 1a) meaning uncertain 2) (CLBL) food, something eaten
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: while...is eating, flesh. See also: Job 20:23; Zephaniah 1:17.
Study Notes — Job 20:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 20:23 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 20:23
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:23
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:23
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:23
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:23
- Cambridge Bible on Job 20:23
- Barnes' Notes on Job 20:23
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:23
- Sermons on Job 20:23
Context — Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked
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. 25It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 78:30–31 | Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths, God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel. |
| 2 | Numbers 11:33 | But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague. |
| 3 | Psalms 11:6 | On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion. |
| 4 | Malachi 2:2 | If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart. |
| 5 | Exodus 9:23 | So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. |
| 6 | Genesis 19:24 | Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. |
| 7 | Isaiah 21:4 | My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror. |
| 8 | Luke 12:17–20 | So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ |
Job 20:23 Summary
This verse is saying that when someone has become full and satisfied with the things of this world, God will pour out His judgment upon them, even as they are enjoying their sinful pleasures. This is a warning against overindulgence and forgetting God, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:10-14. It's a reminder that God's judgment can come at any time, even when we least expect it, and that we should always seek to live a life of humility and dependence on Him (Proverbs 28:13). By seeking God's mercy and forgiveness, we can avoid His judgment and live a life that is pleasing to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'vent His fury' upon someone?
This phrase suggests that God's judgment will be poured out in full force, as seen in Psalm 38:1, where David writes about God's wrath being poured out upon him, and also in Revelation 6:17, where God's wrath is described as a time of great distress.
Is this verse saying that God is against people being prosperous or eating well?
No, this verse is not condemning prosperity or eating, but rather warning against the dangers of overindulgence and forgetting God, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:10-14, where the Israelites are warned not to forget God in their prosperity.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's judgment?
This verse highlights the idea that God's judgment can come suddenly and unexpectedly, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, where it says that destruction will come upon people when they are saying 'peace and safety'.
What is the significance of the phrase 'raining it down on him as he eats'?
This phrase suggests that God's judgment will be poured out in the midst of the person's indulgence, emphasizing the idea that God's judgment can come at any time, even when we least expect it, as seen in Luke 12:20, where a rich man's life is demanded of him while he is still enjoying his wealth.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I might be 'filling my stomach' or indulging in sinful pleasures, and how can I seek God's help to overcome these habits?
- How can I cultivate a sense of gratitude and dependence on God, even in times of prosperity, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:10-14?
- What are some ways that God's judgment can come into my life, and how can I prepare myself for these times by seeking God's mercy and forgiveness?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of living a life of humility and dependence on God, rather than relying on my own strength and resources?
Gill's Exposition on Job 20:23
[When] he is about to fill his belly,.... Either in a literal sense, when he is about to take an ordinary meal to satisfy nature; or in a figurative sense, when he is seeking to increase his worldly
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:23
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:23
When he is about to fill his belly, i.e. when he hath enough and abundance to satisfy all his appetites, and shall design to take the pleasure of all his gains, and to spend his days in epicurism and sensuality. God; who is oft understood in this book where he is not expressed; and so he is here, as appears from the following words, because there is no other person here expressed who was to inflict these evils upon him, and because they, are said to be rained down upon him; which implies their coming from Heaven, or from God. The fury of his wrath; some dreadful and destructive judgment. Shall rain it upon him. This phrase notes both the author of his plagues, God, and the nature and quality of them, that they shall come upon him like rain, i.e. with great vehemency, and so as he cannot prevent or avoid it. While he is eating; as it fell upon thy sons, ,19. Compare ,31.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:23
Job 20:23 [When] he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain [it] upon him while he is eating.Ver. 23. When he is about to fill his belly] It appeareth, by this expression, that it was belly timber wherein the wicked man placed his sufficiency, Job 20:22, his felicity, Si ventri bene sit, si lateri, saith the Epicure in Horace. If the belly may be filled, the body fitted, that is all that these Lurcones, these profligates, look after. Polyphemus knew no other god but his belly. There were belly gods in St Paul’ s time, such as of whom he could not speak with dry eyes, Philippians 3:18-19. Such are compared by Clement of Alexandria to the sea ass, that hath his heart in his belly. By others to the locust, the belly whereof is said to be joined to his mouth, and to end at his tail; to the fish called Blax, that is altogether unprofitable; and to rats and mice, good for nothing but to devour victuals. When therefore such a pamphagus is about to fill his belly and to pamper his paunch, or otherwise to gorge himself with the full messes of sin’ s dainties (as the viper lives on venomous things, the spider on aconite, the sow on swill, as Tartarians on carrion, holding them as dainty as other men do venison), then, saith Zophar, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him] Heb. He shall send forth, &c. He will no longer keep in his judgments in the chains of mercy, but give them their full forth upon this wicked oppressor; and that even very then, when he bids his heart make merry, and assures himself of unchangeable happiness.
For, He shall rain it upon him (that is, reveal it from heaven against him, Romans 1:18) while he is eating] Matthew 24:38. As it befell those cormorants, Numbers 11:33, and the old world, Luke 17:26-27 Sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; Vel ut pluvia quae sereno coelo inopinantes opprimit. Or as foul weather that comes unsent for, and oft unlooked for. The Vulgate rendereth it, And he shall rain his war upon him. But this Zophar setteth forth in the next verse, where he denounceth war and weapons.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:23
Verse 23. When he is about to fill his belly] Here seems a plain allusion to the lustings of the children of Israel in the desert. God showered down quails upon them, and showered down his wrath while the flesh was in their mouth. The allusion is too plain to be mistaken; and this gives some countenance to the bishop of Killala's version of the 20th verse, Job 20:20: - "Because he acknowledged not the quail in his stomach, In the midst of his delight he shall not escape." That שלו, which we translate quietness, means a quail, also the history of the Hebrews' lustings, Exodus 16:2-11, and Numbers 11:31-35, sufficiently proves. Let the reader mark all the expressions here, Job 20:20-23, and compare them with Numbers 11:31-35, and he will probably be of opinion that Zophar has that history immediately in view, which speaks of the Hebrews' murmurings for bread and flesh, and the miraculous showers of manna and quails, and the judgments that fell on them for their murmurings. Let us compare a few passages: - Ver. 20. He shall not feel quietness] שלו selav, the quail. "He shall not save of that which he desired." Ver. 21: There shall none of his meat be left.] Exodus 16:19: "Let no man leave of it till the morning." Ver. 22. In the fulness of his sufficiency, he shall be in straits.] Exodus 16:20: "But some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms and stank." Ver. 23. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.] Numbers 11:33: "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague." Psalms 78:26-30: "He rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: so they did eat and were filled-but, while the meat was in their mouth, the wrath of God came upon them," &c.
These show to what Zophar refers.
Cambridge Bible on Job 20:23
23–29. His insatiable greed shall be satisfied at last. God shall fill him full of his judgments.
Barnes' Notes on Job 20:23
When he is about to fill his belly - Or rather, “there shall be enough to fill his belly.” But what “kind” of food it should be, is indicated in the following part of the verse.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:23
Fourth strophe — Heaven and earth conspire to make the doom of the wicked complete and inevitable, Job 20:23-28.23. About to fill his belly — Literally, It shall be to fill his belly.
Sermons on Job 20:23
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Cup of Wrath by Andrew Bonar | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the severity of God's wrath and the consequences of sin. He uses imagery of the seven seals, trumpets, and vials from the book of Revelation |
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The Folly of Looking Back in Fleeing Out of Sodom by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches about the folly of looking back when fleeing out of Sodom, drawing parallels between the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world to the judgment |
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The Vain Securities of the Wicked by Thomas Vincent | Thomas Vincent delivers a powerful sermon on the certainty and dreadfulness of the burnings of hell, emphasizing that they are prepared for the wicked and graceless individuals as |
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Fire and Brimstone in Hell, to Burn the Wicked by Thomas Vincent | Thomas Vincent preaches a powerful sermon on the horrors of hell, describing the future flames and torments awaiting the wicked in vivid detail. He emphasizes the certainty of hell |
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2 Queries About Hell by Christopher Love | Christopher Love preaches about the existence of hell, providing evidence from both the confessions of heathens and the testimony of Scripture. He emphasizes that the nature of sin |
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The Glory of God and Missions by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the question of how to reconcile the idea that God does everything for Himself with the belief that God is a loving God who loves people. He u |
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(Beginning a New Year) True Faith Is Putting God First by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of giving God the best of what we have, rather than just offering som |