Job 20:15
New International Version
He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.

New Living Translation
They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down.

English Standard Version
He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

Berean Standard Bible
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

Berean Literal Bible
He swallows wealth and vomits it; from his belly God expels it.

King James Bible
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

New King James Version
He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

New American Standard Bible
“He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

NASB 1995
“He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

NASB 1977
“He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

Legacy Standard Bible
He swallows up wealth, But will vomit it up; God will expel it from his belly.

Amplified Bible
“He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches, But will vomit them up; God will drive them out of his belly.

Berean Annotated Bible
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

Christian Standard Bible
He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force it from his stomach.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force it from his stomach.

American Standard Version
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

Contemporary English Version
Then God will make them lose the wealth they gobbled up.

English Revised Version
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He vomits up the riches that he swallowed. God forces them out of his stomach.

Good News Translation
The wicked vomit up the wealth they stole; God takes it back, even out of their stomachs.

International Standard Version
"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach.

NET Bible
The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach.

New Heart English Bible
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

Webster's Bible Translation
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

World English Bible
He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He has swallowed wealth, and vomits it. God drives it out from his belly.

Berean Literal Bible
He swallows wealth and vomits it; from his belly God expels it.

Young's Literal Translation
Wealth he hath swallowed, and doth vomit it. From his belly God driveth it out.

Smith's Literal Translation
He swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit it up, and God shall drive it out of his belly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The riches which he hath swallowed; he shall vomit up, and God shall draw them out of his belly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The riches that he devours, he will vomit up, and from his stomach God will draw them out.

New American Bible
The riches he swallowed he shall vomit up; God shall make his belly disgorge them.

New Revised Standard Version
They swallow down riches and vomit them up again; God casts them out of their bellies.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The riches which he had swallowed down, he shall vomit up out of his belly; and God shall destroy him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the food that he swallowed he will vomit from his belly and God will destroy him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of wrath shall drag him out of his house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked
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. 16He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.…

Cross References
He swallows wealth

Jeremiah 51:34
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14
There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, / or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

Psalm 52:7
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
but vomits it out;

Proverbs 23:8
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

Jeremiah 48:26
“Make him drunk, because he has magnified himself against the LORD; so Moab will wallow in his own vomit, and he will also become a laughingstock.

Jonah 2:10
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
God will force it from his stomach.

Jeremiah 51:44
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.

Psalm 49:17
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.

Ecclesiastes 5:15
As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.
Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

Proverbs 21:6
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

Jeremiah 17:11
Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.”

Psalm 62:10
Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

Luke 12:20-21
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?’ / This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6:19-20
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.


Treasury of Scripture

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

swallowed

Proverbs 23:8
The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

Matthew 27:3,4
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, …

Jump to Previous
Belly Cast Casts Driveth Expel Food Forced Riches Sends Spit Stomach Swallowed Swallows Vomit Wealth
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Belly Cast Casts Driveth Expel Food Forced Riches Sends Spit Stomach Swallowed Swallows Vomit Wealth
Job 20
1. Zophar shows the state and portion of the wicked












He swallows wealth
This phrase suggests the insatiable greed and consumption of wealth by the wicked. In the context of Job, it reflects the belief that those who accumulate wealth unjustly will ultimately find it unsatisfying. The imagery of "swallowing" wealth can be connected to the broader biblical theme of the futility of earthly riches, as seen in Ecclesiastes 5:10, where it is stated that those who love money will never have enough.

but vomits it out;
The act of vomiting wealth indicates a forced expulsion, suggesting that ill-gotten gains will not remain with the wicked. This can be seen as a divine retribution where the wealth that was greedily consumed is forcibly removed. This imagery is consistent with the biblical principle that what is unjustly gained will not bring lasting satisfaction or security, as echoed in Proverbs 13:11, which speaks of wealth gained hastily diminishing.

God will force it from his stomach.
This phrase emphasizes divine intervention and justice. It is God who ensures that the wicked cannot retain their ill-gotten wealth. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and justice, where He acts to uphold righteousness. The imagery of God forcing wealth from the stomach underscores the inevitability of divine judgment. This can be related to the broader biblical narrative of God's justice, as seen in the story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21, where God calls the man to account for his misplaced trust in wealth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zophar the Naamathite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. Zophar is known for his harsh and direct speeches, often emphasizing God's justice and the consequences of wickedness.

2. Job
The central figure of the Book of Job, a man known for his righteousness and suffering. Job's account is a profound exploration of faith, suffering, and divine justice.

3. God
The ultimate authority and judge in the account. God's role is central in the unfolding of Job's trials and the eventual restoration.

4. Wealth
In this context, wealth symbolizes the material gains and prosperity that the wicked might acquire unjustly.

5. Justice
An underlying theme in Zophar's speech, emphasizing the divine retribution that awaits those who gain wealth through unrighteous means.
Teaching Points
The Temporary Nature of Ill-Gotten Wealth
Wealth acquired through unjust means is fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. God ensures that such wealth does not bring lasting joy or security.

Divine Justice and Accountability
God holds individuals accountable for their actions, and there is a divine justice that ensures the wicked do not prosper indefinitely.

Contentment and Righteousness
True contentment comes from living a life of righteousness and integrity, rather than pursuing wealth at any cost.

The Consequences of Greed
Greed leads to destructive outcomes, both spiritually and materially. It is important to guard one's heart against the love of money.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Job 20:15?

2. How does Job 20:15 illustrate consequences of greed and dishonesty in life?

3. What does "vomit the riches" in Job 20:15 teach about divine justice?

4. How can we apply Job 20:15 to resist materialism in today's society?

5. Which other scriptures warn against the dangers of ill-gotten wealth like Job 20:15?

6. How does Job 20:15 encourage trust in God's provision over worldly riches?

7. What does Job 20:15 reveal about the consequences of greed and materialism?

8. How does Job 20:15 reflect the justice of God in the Bible?

9. In what ways does Job 20:15 challenge the prosperity gospel?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 20?

11. Is Job's story historically accurate?

12. Is death the last enemy to be destroyed?

13. How can a just God allow the innocent to suffer alongside the wicked, as implied in Job 35:14-16?

14. What are the torments of Sheol?
What Does Job 20:15 Mean
He swallows wealth

• The verse pictures a wicked man devouring riches as fast as he can, as though gulping them down without restraint.

• Scripture consistently warns against this kind of greedy consumption: “Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing” (Proverbs 10:2); “Whoever loves money is never satisfied” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

• Job’s friend Zophar is insisting that any wealth gained by unrighteous means—oppression, fraud, or simple covetousness—will be short-lived (compare Job 15:29 and Job 27:16–17).

• The image reminds us that material gain can’t fill the spiritual emptiness inside a person (Luke 12:16-21).


but vomits it out

• What was greedily swallowed must be disgorged. The riches that once seemed sweet now become nauseating and impossible to retain.

Proverbs 20:17 says, “Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel”. The pleasure of ill-gotten gain turns into painful loss.

Psalm 62:10 cautions, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” When the heart clings to wealth, the inevitable reversal feels like violent sickness.

James 5:1-3 shows the same pattern: the hoarded wealth of the ungodly “has rotted,” testifying against them.


God will force it from his stomach

• The ultimate cause of the loss is not random chance but the active justice of God. He pries the stolen treasure out of the innermost part of the offender.

Jeremiah 17:11 pictures this divine intervention: “Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is he who makes a fortune unjustly; in the middle of his days it will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool”.

• Nothing stays hidden from the Lord; even what is “in the stomach” is under His authority (Hebrews 4:13).

• The verse reassures sufferers like Job that God sees every corrupt gain and will reverse it in His timing (Psalm 73:18-19).


summary

Job 20:15 teaches that greedy, unjust wealth is fleeting. The wicked may gulp it down, but God Himself will make them disgorge it. Every attempt to secure prosperity apart from righteousness ends in loss, proving that true security is found only in the fear of the Lord and obedience to His ways.

Verse 15. - He hath swallowed down riches and he shall vomit them up again. The wicked man shall be made to disgorge his ill-gotten gains. Either fear, or remorse, or a judicial sentence will force him to make restitution (see ver. 10). God shall cast them out of his belly. Whatever is the immediate motive of the restitution: it will really be God's doing. He will cause the fear, or the remorse, or bring about the judicial sentence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He swallows
בָּ֭לַע (bā·la‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf

wealth
חַ֣יִל (ḥa·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

but vomits it out;
וַיְקִאֶ֑נּוּ (way·qi·’en·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6958: Spue out, vomit out, up, up again

God
אֵֽל׃ (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

will force it
יוֹרִשֶׁ֥נּוּ (yō·w·ri·šen·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

from his stomach.
מִ֝בִּטְנ֗וֹ (mib·biṭ·nōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything


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OT Poetry: Job 20:15 He has swallowed down riches and he (Jb)
Job 20:14
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