Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. New Living Translation But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach. English Standard Version yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. Berean Standard Bible yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. King James Bible Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. New King James Version Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. New American Standard Bible Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. NASB 1995 Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. NASB 1977 Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. Legacy Standard Bible Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. Amplified Bible Yet his food turns [to poison] in his stomach; It is the venom of vipers within him. Christian Standard Bible yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras’ venom inside him. Holman Christian Standard Bible yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras’ venom inside him. American Standard Version Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. Contemporary English Version But their food will turn sour and poison their stomachs. English Revised Version Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. GOD'S WORD® Translation the food in his belly turns sour. It becomes snake venom in his stomach. Good News Translation But in their stomachs the food turns bitter, as bitter as any poison could be. International Standard Version his food will turn rancid in his stomach— it will become a cobra's poison inside him. NET Bible his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him. New Heart English Bible yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him. Webster's Bible Translation Yet his food in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleyet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. World English Bible yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionhis food is turned in his bowels, the bitterness of cobras [is] in his heart. Young's Literal Translation His food in his bowels is turned, The bitterness of asps is in his heart. Smith's Literal Translation His bread in his bowels was turned, the gall of asps in his midst. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHis bread in his belly shall be turned into the gall of asps within him. Catholic Public Domain Version His bread in his belly will be turned into the venom of snakes within him. New American Bible Yet in his stomach the food shall turn; it shall be venom of asps inside him. New Revised Standard Version yet their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYet his food in his stomach is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated His bread in his stomach will be turned, and the venom of The Dragon is within him OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him. Brenton Septuagint Translation yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked…13though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, 14yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. 15He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.… Cross References Proverbs 23:31-32 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. / In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Psalm 140:3 They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah James 3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Romans 3:13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” Isaiah 59:5 They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched. Jeremiah 8:14 Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. Revelation 8:11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters. Deuteronomy 32:32-33 But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter. / Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras. Matthew 23:33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell? Psalm 58:4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 30:6 This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them. 1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm. Treasury of Scripture Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. his meat 2 Samuel 11:2-5 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon… 2 Samuel 12:10,11 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife… Psalm 32:3,4 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long… the gall Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. Deuteronomy 32:24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Jump to Previous Asps Bitter Bitterness Bowels Changed Cobra Cobras Food Gall Heart Inside Meat Poison Serpents Snakes Sour Stomach Turn Turned Venom WithinJump to Next Asps Bitter Bitterness Bowels Changed Cobra Cobras Food Gall Heart Inside Meat Poison Serpents Snakes Sour Stomach Turn Turned Venom WithinJob 20 1. Zophar shows the state and portion of the wickedyet in his stomach This phrase suggests an internal process, indicating that the consequences of one's actions are not always immediately visible. In biblical terms, the stomach often symbolizes the seat of desire or appetite. This can be connected to the broader biblical theme of internal corruption, as seen in Matthew 15:17-20, where Jesus speaks about what comes from the heart defiling a person. his food sours into the venom of cobras within him Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. The central figure in the Book of Job, he undergoes severe trials and suffering. 2. Zophar the Naamathite One of Job's three friends who visit him to offer counsel. Zophar is the speaker in Job 20, delivering a speech that emphasizes the fate of the wicked. 3. The Wicked In this context, Zophar is describing the fate of the wicked, suggesting that their ill-gotten gains will turn against them. 4. Cobra A venomous snake used metaphorically to describe the deadly consequences of sin and wickedness. 5. The Book of Job A poetic and philosophical book in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, justice, and the sovereignty of God. Teaching Points The Deceptive Nature of SinSin may initially appear satisfying or beneficial, but it ultimately leads to destruction and bitterness, much like food that turns to venom. The Consequences of Wickedness The passage serves as a warning that the gains of the wicked will not bring lasting satisfaction and will ultimately lead to their downfall. The Importance of Righteous Living In contrast to the fate of the wicked, living a life of integrity and righteousness aligns with God's will and leads to true fulfillment. The Role of Friends in Times of Suffering Zophar's speech, while intended to counsel, reflects a misunderstanding of Job's situation. This highlights the need for discernment and compassion when offering support to those in distress. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 20:14?2. How does Job 20:14 illustrate the consequences of wickedness in one's life? 3. What does "food turns sour" symbolize about sin's impact on spiritual health? 4. How can we guard against the deceitfulness of sin described in Job 20:14? 5. Compare Job 20:14 with Proverbs 14:12 on the end result of sin. 6. How can believers apply Job 20:14 to pursue a life of righteousness? 7. How does Job 20:14 reflect the consequences of wickedness according to biblical teachings? 8. What is the significance of the imagery used in Job 20:14? 9. How does Job 20:14 fit into the overall message of the Book of Job? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 20? 11. What is the Bible's stance on alcohol consumption? 12. How does a seed grow without human intervention? 13. Does Job 14:1-2's portrayal of life as short and full of trouble conflict with biblical passages that promise long life and blessings? 14. Does the Bible mention the paleo diet? What Does Job 20:14 Mean Setting the SceneZophar is answering Job for the second time (Job 20:1-3). He insists that God swiftly repays the wicked, even if they seem prosperous for a moment (Job 20:4-11). This backdrop helps us hear verse 14 as part of a larger warning: whatever a wicked person “eats”—whatever gains he swallows—will not stay pleasant for long. Cross references echo the same conviction: Psalm 73:18-20 pictures the wicked “swept away by terrors,” and Proverbs 10:2 says, “Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing.” The Initial Bite: Taking In the Delicacy • The wicked “swallow” wealth, pleasure, and power as though it were a feast (Job 20:12-13). • Proverbs 20:17 notes the same pattern: “Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth is filled with gravel.” • Hebrews 11:25 reminds us of the “fleeting pleasures of sin.” Sin often starts with an attractive taste. The person thinks, “I can handle this,” unaware that poison is already on the fork. The Sudden Sour: When Pleasure Turns Toxic “Yet in his stomach his food sours” (Job 20:14). • Numbers 11:33 shows meat still “between their teeth” when judgment struck Israel. • Psalm 106:14-15 says God “sent a wasting disease among them” when they craved intensely. • Revelation 10:9-10 pictures a scroll “sweet as honey” in John’s mouth, but “sour” in his stomach—an illustration that God’s message of judgment can be both delightful and distressing. What begins as sweetness quickly turns rancid. Sin promises satisfaction; reality delivers nausea. The Venom Inside: Deadly Consequences “…into the venom of cobras within him” (Job 20:14). • Deuteronomy 32:33 warns, “Their wine is the venom of serpents.” • Psalm 140:3 and Romans 3:13 describe evil speech as “poison of serpents.” • Isaiah 59:5-6 likens wicked schemes to hatching viper eggs that kill whoever eats them. Zophar heightens the image: the sour mass isn’t merely unpleasant—it becomes lethal. Cobra venom is swift, paralyzing, and impossible to neutralize once injected. Likewise, unrepented sin moves from inner discomfort to spiritual death (James 1:14-15). Timeless Truths for Today • Sin’s payoff is always temporary pleasure followed by lasting judgment (Galatians 6:7-8). • Wealth or success obtained unrighteously will eventually become self-destructive (Proverbs 13:11; 1 Timothy 6:9-10). • God’s justice may appear delayed, but it is certain and thorough (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; 2 Peter 3:9-10). • True satisfaction comes only from what God provides in righteousness (Psalm 34:8; John 4:13-14). summary Job 20:14 warns that whatever a wicked person greedily consumes will rot inside him and become deadly like cobra venom. The verse exposes sin’s deceptive sweetness, the inevitable souring of illicit gain, and the lethal consequences that follow. God ensures that unrighteous pleasure turns into judgment, underscoring the need to seek satisfaction in Him alone. Verse 14. - Yet his meat in his bowels is turned. Still, a time comes when the self-complacency of the wicked man is shaken. He experiences a failure of health or spirits. Then, suddenly, it is as if the meat that he has swallowed had been turned to poison in his bowels, as if the gall of asps were within him. Compare what Bishop Butler says of the sudden waking up of a man's conscience ('Analogy,' pt. 1. ch. 2. p. 52). The ancients seem to have known that the poison of serpents was a strong acid, and therefore supposed that it was secreted by the gallbladder (see Pliny, 'Hist. Nat.,' 11:37).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew yet his foodלַ֭חְמוֹ (laḥ·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain will sour נֶהְפָּ֑ךְ (neh·pāḵ) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert in his stomach בְּמֵעָ֣יו (bə·mê·‘āw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4578: The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart to the venom מְרוֹרַ֖ת (mə·rō·w·raṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4846: Bitterness, a bitter thing, bile, venom of cobras פְּתָנִ֣ים (pə·ṯā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6620: (a venomous serpent) perhaps cobra within him. בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ (bə·qir·bōw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center Links Job 20:14 NIVJob 20:14 NLT Job 20:14 ESV Job 20:14 NASB Job 20:14 KJV Job 20:14 BibleApps.com Job 20:14 Biblia Paralela Job 20:14 Chinese Bible Job 20:14 French Bible Job 20:14 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 20:14 Yet his food in his bowels (Jb) |