Job 22:16
New International Version
They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood.

New Living Translation
They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away.

English Standard Version
They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.

Berean Standard Bible
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

King James Bible
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

New King James Version
Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?

New American Standard Bible
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

NASB 1995
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

NASB 1977
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

Legacy Standard Bible
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?

Amplified Bible
Men who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were poured out like a river?

Christian Standard Bible
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were washed away by a river.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were washed away by a river.

American Standard Version
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

Contemporary English Version
who were swept away without warning.

English Revised Version
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They are snatched up before their time. A river washes their foundation away.

Good News Translation
Even before their time had come, they were washed away by a flood.

International Standard Version
who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

NET Bible
men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?

New Heart English Bible
who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

Webster's Bible Translation
Who were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood!
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

World English Bible
who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who have been cut down unexpectedly? A flood is poured out on their foundation.

Young's Literal Translation
Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.

Smith's Literal Translation
Who were laid hold of, and no time a river will pour out their foundation?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.

Catholic Public Domain Version
These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.

New American Bible
They were snatched before their time; their foundations a river swept away.

New Revised Standard Version
They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away by a flood.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Those who were cut down before their time, who were stopped at the crossing place of the river of life, and then did not remember who had laid down their pattern of living,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And at crossing of the river they were stopped and they did not remember him who laid their foundations
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
who were seized before their time: their foundations are as an overflowing stream.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz Exhorts Job
15Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod? 16They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood. 17They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’…

Cross References
Genesis 6:5-7
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. / And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. / So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”

Genesis 7:21-23
And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind. / Of all that was on dry land, everything that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. / And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained.

Matthew 24:38-39
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:26-27
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

2 Peter 2:5
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Genesis 19:24-25
Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. / Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.

2 Peter 3:6
through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Isaiah 14:23
“I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

Jeremiah 51:42-43
The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves. / Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through.

Ezekiel 26:19-21
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, / then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living. / I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Psalm 73:18-19
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. / How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

Proverbs 10:25
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

Nahum 1:8
But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.


Treasury of Scripture

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:

cut down

Job 15:32
It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

Psalm 55:23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Psalm 102:24
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

Genesis 7:11,17-24
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened…

Matthew 24:37-39
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be…

1 Peter 3:19,20
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; …

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Carried Cut Flood Foundation Foundations Overcome Overflowed Overflown Poured River Rush Snatched Stream Time Unexpectedly Violently Washed Waters
Job 22
1. Eliphaz shows that man's goodness profits not God
5. He accuses Job of various sins
21. He exhorts him to repentance, with promises of mercy














They were snatched away before their time
This phrase suggests a sudden and premature end to life, often seen as a divine judgment. In the context of Job, Eliphaz is accusing Job of wickedness, implying that the wicked are often taken away unexpectedly. This reflects the biblical theme of divine retribution, where those who live in sin face sudden destruction. The idea of being "snatched away" can be connected to the fate of the wicked in Psalm 73:18-19, where they are cast down to ruin. It also echoes the suddenness of judgment seen in the days of Noah (Genesis 6-7), where the wicked were destroyed by the flood.

and their foundations were swept away by a flood
This imagery of a flood sweeping away foundations is reminiscent of the great flood in Genesis, which served as a divine judgment against widespread corruption and violence. The flood narrative is a powerful symbol of God's ability to cleanse and renew the earth, removing the wicked to establish a new beginning. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, floods were often seen as acts of divine intervention. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the foundation that cannot be swept away (1 Corinthians 3:11). The flood also prefigures the final judgment, where the unrighteous will be removed, and a new creation will be established (2 Peter 3:5-7).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Eliphaz the Temanite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Eliphaz is speaking, accusing Job of wickedness and suggesting that the wicked are punished by God.

2. The Wicked
The people Eliphaz refers to in his speech, suggesting that they were destroyed because of their sins.

3. The Flood
A reference to a catastrophic event, possibly alluding to the great flood in Noah's time, symbolizing divine judgment.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Divine Judgment
God's judgment is real and inevitable for those who live in wickedness. The flood serves as a historical reminder of God's power and justice.

The Importance of Righteous Living
Believers are called to live righteously, understanding that God sees all actions and will judge accordingly. This should motivate a life of integrity and obedience.

The Transience of Life
Life is fleeting, and the wicked can be "snatched away before their time." This should encourage believers to focus on eternal values rather than temporary gains.

The Need for Repentance
The fate of the wicked serves as a call to repentance. Believers should regularly examine their lives and turn away from sin.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Even when the wicked seem to prosper, trust that God is sovereign and will ultimately bring justice.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Job 22:16?

2. How does Job 22:16 warn us about ignoring God's ways in life?

3. What does "carried off before their time" teach about God's judgment?

4. How can we avoid the fate of those in Job 22:16 today?

5. Connect Job 22:16 with Proverbs 14:12 on the consequences of ignoring God.

6. How can Job 22:16 inspire us to live righteously and seek God daily?

7. How does Job 22:16 relate to the concept of divine justice and punishment?

8. What historical context supports the events described in Job 22:16?

9. How does Job 22:16 challenge the idea of the prosperity of the wicked?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 22?

11. What careers are suitable for Christians to pursue?

12. Who is The Evil One in the story?

13. Job 22:15-16 mentions an ancient flood--what historical or archaeological evidence supports a global event of this magnitude?

14. Proverbs 19:23 promises protection from harm for those who fear God--how do real-world tragedies affecting believers align with this assurance?
What Does Job 22:16 Mean
They were snatched away

“Snatched away” (Job 22:16) pictures God’s sudden, decisive judgment.

Psalm 73:18–19 shows the wicked “swept away in an instant.”

• In Proverbs 29:1 the unrepentant are “suddenly broken beyond remedy.”

The tone is swift, unavoidable removal—no bargaining, no delay.


before their time

Death came “before their time” (Job 22:16 a). Eliphaz insists that rebellion shortens life.

Proverbs 10:27 notes, “the years of the wicked will be cut short.”

Ecclesiastes 7:17 warns, “Why die before your time?”

Job 15:32 uses the same idea: “It will be paid in full before his time.”

God is never premature, but to human eyes His judgment often feels shockingly early.


and their foundations were swept away

Foundations—everything that seemed solid—collapsed.

• In Matthew 7:27 Jesus describes a house with no foundation: “great was its fall.”

Job 4:19 speaks of homes built on dust, crushed like a moth.

Psalm 11:3 asks, “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Nothing man builds can withstand divine judgment when sin is left unchecked.


by a flood

Eliphaz’s language echoes the global deluge of Genesis 6–7.

Genesis 7:21–23: “Every creature... perished.”

2 Peter 2:5 calls it God’s example of “bringing the flood on the world of the ungodly.”

• Jesus likens the flood to His return (Matthew 24:38–39), underscoring a literal, historical event and a future fulfillment of judgment.

The flood motif reminds us that God once intervened catastrophically and will do so again.


summary

Job 22:16 points to real, historical judgment: sinners were swiftly taken, their lives cut short, their security demolished, and the flood wiped them away. It warns every generation that no rebellion escapes God’s notice; yet it also proves His patience, for He always warns before He acts. Walking in humble obedience is the sure foundation that endures when the floods rise.

(16) Which were cut down out of time.--Or, which were snatched away before their time. It is generally supposed that there is an allusion here to the history of the Flood; if so, the reference is of course very important in its bearing on the age of that record, since the Book of Job can hardly fail to be very old itself.

Whose foundation was overflown with a flood.--Or, upon whose foundation a stream was poured out; or, whose foundation became as a flowing stream; or, whose foundation is like a flowing stream: that is, their principles are infectious, and bear all before them.

Verse 16. - Which were cut down (rather, swept or snatched away) out of time; i.e. before their time, prematurely. Whose foundation was overflown with a flood. Some suppose an allusion to the general destruction of mankind by the Noachian Deluge; but perhaps no more is meant than that the supports of the wicked are ordinarily loosened and carried away by a flood of calamity. No single event need be referred to.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They
אֲשֶֽׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

were snatched away
קֻמְּט֥וּ (qum·mə·ṭū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7059: To pluck, destroy

before
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

their time,
עֵ֑ת (‘êṯ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

and their foundations
יְסוֹדָֽם׃ (yə·sō·w·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3247: Foundation, base

were swept away
יוּצַ֥ק (yū·ṣaq)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3332: To pour out, to melt, cast as metal, to place firmly, to stiffen, grow hard

by a river.
נָ֝הָ֗ר (nā·hār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity


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OT Poetry: Job 22:16 Who were snatched away before their time (Jb)
Job 22:15
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