How does Job 15:35 illustrate the consequences of conceiving "trouble" and "evil"? Setting the Scene in Job 15 • Job’s friend Eliphaz is describing the inevitable fate of the wicked. • In verse 35 he pinpoints the inner origin of that fate: “They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.” (Job 15:35) The Imagery: Conception, Birth, and Deceit • Scripture pictures sin as a pregnancy that moves from hidden conception to public delivery. • “Conceive” shows that trouble begins invisibly in the heart. • “Give birth” reveals that inward sin never stays private; it matures and emerges. • “Their womb fashions deceit” emphasizes that the whole process is governed by falsehood—sin can only reproduce more sin. Step-by-Step Consequences 1. Hidden Intent → Conceived Trouble • Evil starts as a deliberate thought, nurtured in secrecy. 2. Inevitable Expression → Birth of Evil • What the heart hides, life finally reveals. The wicked cannot contain what they have cultivated. 3. Continuous Cycle → Womb Fashions Deceit • Deceit becomes an ongoing factory inside them, ensuring future trouble. 4. Divine Recompense → Judgment Follows • Earlier in the chapter Eliphaz lists loss of riches, darkness, and God’s wrath (15:20-34). The “birth” leads straight to these outcomes. Echoes Throughout Scripture • Psalm 7:14 – “Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.” • Isaiah 59:4 – “They conceive trouble and give birth to iniquity.” • James 1:14-15 – “Desire, after it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” • Galatians 6:7-8 – we reap exactly what we sow; corruption answers corruption. • Proverbs 22:8 – “He who sows injustice will reap disaster.” • Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death.” Living Out the Warning Today • Guard the heart: uproot sinful thoughts before they implant (Proverbs 4:23). • Expose darkness early: bring hidden motives into the light of repentance (1 John 1:9). • Sow righteousness: the same principle that multiplies evil will also multiply blessing (Hosea 10:12). |
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