Job 4:9
Job 4:9 in Multiple Translations
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.
By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
With the blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his nostrels are they cosumed.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.
By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.
They die when God angrily blows his breath on them, when he is very angry with them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 4:9
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 4:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
מִ/נִּשְׁמַ֣ת
אֱל֣וֹהַ
יֹאבֵ֑דוּ
וּ/מֵ/ר֖וּחַ
אַפּ֣/וֹ
יִכְלֽוּ
מִ/נִּשְׁמַ֣ת
nᵉshâmâh
H5397
breath
Prep | N-fs
אֱל֣וֹהַ
ʼĕlôwahh
H433
god
N-ms
יֹאבֵ֑דוּ
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וּ/מֵ/ר֖וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
Conj | Prep | N-cs
אַפּ֣/וֹ
ʼaph
H639
face
N-ms | Suff
יִכְלֽוּ
kâlâh
H3615
to end
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
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 4:9
מִ/נִּשְׁמַ֣ת
nᵉshâmâh
H5397
"breath"
Prep | N-fs
This word means breath, spirit, or wind, and is used in Genesis and other Old Testament books to describe God's breath and the breath of living things. It is related to the idea of divine inspiration and intellect, and is used in various contexts in the Bible.
Definition: 1) breath, spirit 1a) breath (of God) 1b) breath (of man) 1c) every breathing thing 1d) spirit (of man) Aramaic equivalent: nish.ma (נִשְׁמָא "breath" H5396)
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: blast, (that) breath(-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit. See also: Genesis 2:7; Job 32:8; Psalms 18:16.
אֱל֣וֹהַ
ʼĕlôwahh
H433
"god"
N-ms
Eloah refers to God or a deity, and is used to describe the one true God or false gods. It is often translated as God in the KJV, and is related to the word Elohim, which also refers to God.
Definition: 1) God 2) false god Aramaic equivalent: e.lah (אֱלָהּ "god" H0426)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: God, god. See H430 (אֱלֹהִים). See also: Deuteronomy 32:15; Job 22:26; Psalms 18:32.
יֹאבֵ֑דוּ
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
וּ/מֵ/ר֖וּחַ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
Conj | Prep | N-cs
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
אַפּ֣/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.
יִכְלֽוּ
kâlâh
H3615
"to end"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Definition: : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end 1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass 1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought) 1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease 1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend 1b9) to destroy, exterminate 1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed
Usage: Occurs in 199 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, [idiom] fully, [idiom] have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste. See also: Genesis 2:1; 2 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 18:38.
Study Notes — Job 4:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 4:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 4:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 4:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 4:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 4:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 4:9
- Cambridge Bible on Job 4:9
- Barnes' Notes on Job 4:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 4:9
- Sermons on Job 4:9
Context — Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper
7Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed?
8As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
9By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.
10The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:30 | He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away. |
| 2 | Isaiah 11:4 | but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. |
| 3 | Isaiah 30:33 | For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. |
| 4 | 2 Thessalonians 2:8 | And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. |
| 5 | Psalms 18:15 | The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. |
| 6 | Revelation 2:16 | Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. |
| 7 | Job 1:19 | when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” |
| 8 | 2 Kings 19:7 | Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’” |
| 9 | Exodus 15:8 | At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. |
| 10 | Exodus 15:10 | But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. |
Job 4:9 Summary
[This verse means that when God decides to judge someone, it can happen quickly and without warning, like a strong wind blowing them away. It's like when God said in Genesis 6:7 that He was sorry He had made people, and He decided to destroy them with a flood, because of their wickedness. We can avoid God's judgment by turning to Him and seeking His love and forgiveness, as it says in Romans 5:8, that God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that people perish by the breath of God?
This phrase suggests that God's judgment can come swiftly and unexpectedly, like a breath of air, as seen in Psalm 104:29, where it says that when God hides His face, people are terrified, and when He takes away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
Is God's anger a contradiction to His love?
No, God's anger and love are not contradictory, as seen in Romans 1:18, where it says that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness, and in John 3:16, where it says that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
How can we avoid perishing by the blast of God's anger?
We can avoid God's judgment by seeking refuge in Him, as Psalm 2:12 says, 'Blessed are all who take refuge in Him', and by repenting of our sins, as in Luke 13:3, where Jesus says, 'Unless you repent, you will all perish'
Does this verse imply that God is cruel or arbitrary?
No, this verse does not imply that God is cruel or arbitrary, but rather that He is a just and righteous God, who will judge all people according to their deeds, as seen in Revelation 20:12-13, where it says that God will judge people according to what they have done
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have experienced God's judgment or discipline in my life, and how have I responded to it?
- How can I cultivate a healthy fear of God, as seen in this verse, and what are some practical ways to do so?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be 'sowing trouble' or 'plowing iniquity', and how can I repent and turn to God?
- How can I seek refuge in God and avoid perishing by the blast of His anger, and what does that look like in my daily life?
Gill's Exposition on Job 4:9
By the blast of God they perish,.... They and their works, the ploughers, sowers, and reapers of iniquity; the allusion is to the blasting of corn by the east wind, or by mildew, c.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 4:9
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. Breath of his nostrils - God's anger. A figure from the fiery winds of the East (Job 1:16; Isaiah 5:25; Psalms 18:8; Psalms 18:15).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 4:9
By the blast of God, to wit, of his nostrils, as it here follows, i.e. by his anger, which in men shows itself in the nostrils, by hot and frequent breathings there, and therefore by an anthropopathy is ascribed to God; by a secret, and oft undiscerned, but mighty and powerful, judgment of God, by which they are blasted and blown away as chaff by the wind, as the phrase is, Psalms 1.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 4:9
Job 4:9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.Ver. 9. By the blast of God they perish] He puts himself to no great pain to punish them; but blows them away as so many dust heaps; he nods them to destruction, saith the psalmist, Psalms 80:16; he can as easily do it as bid it to be done. So Caesar Metellus. If the Lord do but arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and all that hate him fly before him, Psalms 64:1. If he but put his head out of the windows of heaven, as it were, and say, Who is on my side; who? all the creatures (who for fear of him had hid themselves, as worms wriggle into their holes in time of thunder) shall look out presently, and offer him their service; so that he cannot possibly want a weapon to tame his rebels, or a way to bring the wicked to condign punishment. He is Eloah, as he is here called; that is, The powerful One, the mighty strong God, as Isaiah 9:6, before whom all nations are as the drop of a bucket, or as the dust of the balance, Isaiah 40:15; no more able to stand against him than is the glass bottle against a cannon shot, or downny thistle before a whirlwind. Behold, I will send a blast upon him (saith God concerning Sennacherib, 2 Kings 19:7), and so set him going. So, elsewhere, he threateneth to tread down his stoutest enemies as straw is trodden down to the dunghill. Neither shall he much trouble himself in doing this: for he shall only spread forth his hands in the midst of them, "as he that swimmeth, spreadeth forth his hands to swim," &c., Isaiah 25:11-12, to signify that he shall do it with greatest facility. The motion in swimming is easy, not strong; for strong violent strokes in the water would rather sink than support.
It is said, that by a look of his out of the pillar of fire and of the cloud he troubled the host of the Egyptians, Exodus 14:24, and as the rocks repelled the boisterous waves, - Conantia frangere frangunt, so did he the enemies of his people. By the breath of his nostrils are they consumed] Heb. By the wind of his nostrils. This is the same with the former. Only it is conceived that Eliphaz here alludeth to the manner of the death of Job s children by a mighty wind, so strong as if God himself had breathed it out. By the breath of his mouth he made the world, Psalms 32:6, and by the same breath can he as soon and as easily unmake it again, as he did in the general deluge, whereunto the Chaldee paraphrast holdeth that Eliphaz here referreth; the remembrance of which standing monument of God’ s wrath was fresh and well known when this was spoken.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 4:9
Verse 9. By the blast of God they perish] As the noxious and parching east wind blasts and destroys vegetation, so the wicked perish under the indignation of the Almighty.
Cambridge Bible on Job 4:9
9. by the blast of God] Better, By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed. The destructive judgment of God upon the wicked is described as a fiery breath coming from His mouth, as the hot wind of the desert withers and burns up the grass, cf. Isaiah 40:7; Amos 1:2.
Barnes' Notes on Job 4:9
By the blast of God - That is, by the judgment of God. The figure is taken from the hot and fiery wind, which, sweeping over a field of grain, dries it up and destroys it. In like manner Eliphaz says the wicked perish before God.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 4:9
9. The blast of God — The breath of God. The breath of his nostrils — An expression used figuratively for wrath.
Sermons on Job 4:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eyewitnesses of His Glory by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the Transfiguration of Jesus, highlighting that it served as a pivotal moment for the disciples, providing them with a vision of His |
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He Wants It All by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of fully trusting God with every aspect of our lives, including our health, family, and future. He reflects on Isaiah's message that if we |
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But as Flea-Bitings by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks warns of the dreadful reality of hell, describing it as a torment far greater than any earthly suffering. He emphasizes that the fire of Tophet, prepared by God, is e |
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The Fearful Destiny! by James Smith | James Smith preaches a solemn sermon on the threatenings of God, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God's wrath. He warns about the dangers of hypocrisy, highl |
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Be Filled and Be Filled Now! by Roy Hession | The preacher delves into the concept of 'katargeo,' which means to render something powerless or ineffective. This term is often used in the New Testament to describe the nullifica |
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Ezekiel 44:1 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the imminent return of Christ, detailing the events that must precede His coming, including the rapture of the church, the tribulation, the revelation of the |
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Duties of Protestants by Ian Paisley | Ian Paisley preaches about the importance of understanding the strength and principles of the adversary, particularly focusing on the system of Rome and its unchangeable policy. He |