How does Job 27:14 illustrate the consequences of wickedness for one's descendants?

Setting the Scene

Job, defending his integrity, contrasts the destiny of the righteous with that of the wicked. In 27:13-23 he sketches the divine judgment that inevitably follows evil. Verse 14 zooms in on the family line—the children who grow up under the shadow of their parents’ sin.

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Job 27:14

“If his sons multiply, it is for the sword;

and his offspring will never have enough bread.”

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Key Observations

• “If his sons multiply” – Even apparent blessing (numerous children) cannot override God’s moral order.

• “For the sword” – Violence and premature death stalk the lineage; turmoil replaces peace.

• “Will never have enough bread” – Chronic deprivation haunts the household; prosperity evaporates.

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Consequences Spelled Out

1. Violence replaces security

– The same “sword” the wicked often wield comes back on their descendants (Genesis 9:6; Matthew 26:52).

2. Deprivation replaces abundance

– What looked like gain turns into want (Proverbs 11:28; Jeremiah 17:11).

3. Legacy of instability

– Instead of stability, the family tree is marked by brokenness (Psalm 37:10, 28).

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Other Scriptures Echoing the Principle

• Exodus 20:5 – Sin’s effects “to the third and fourth generation.”

• Psalm 109:9-13 – “May his children be fatherless… may his descendants be cut off.”

• Proverbs 2:22 – “The wicked will be cut off from the land.”

• Isaiah 14:20-21 – “Prepare a place to slaughter his sons… so they will never rise.”

• Jeremiah 31:29-30 – Balances the truth: each soul ultimately answers for its own sin, yet patterns can linger.

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Practical Takeaways for Today

• Sin isn’t private; it splashes onto the next generation.

• Wealth, influence, or a large family cannot shield against God’s justice.

• Repentance breaks the cycle (Ezekiel 18:30-32; 1 John 1:9).

• A righteous heritage, by contrast, becomes a blessing (Psalm 112:1-2; Proverbs 20:7).