What is the meaning of Job 20:17? He will not enjoy • Zophar declares that the wicked person’s future pleasure is cut off. Psalm 37:13 notes, “The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.” • The verb “enjoy” speaks of personal participation; it is not that the good things cease to exist, but that the ungodly man will be barred from them. Proverbs 10:3 adds, “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He thwarts the craving of the wicked.” • In the flow of Job, this line counters Job’s earlier hope of vindication (Job 19:25-27), insisting instead that the unrepentant will miss every blessing. the streams • Streams picture refreshing, ongoing supply. Psalm 1:3 describes the righteous as “a tree planted by streams of water.” • For the wicked, however, the stream is only a mirage; Isaiah 57:20 compares them to “the tossing sea, which cannot rest.” Instead of stability and nourishment, they face constant agitation. • The point: earthly resources cannot secure lasting joy when one stands opposed to God (Luke 12:20). the rivers • The plural “rivers” intensifies the abundance being forfeited. Ezekiel 47:9 portrays rivers flowing from God’s sanctuary bringing life “wherever the river goes.” • Revelation 22:1 shows the eternal fulfillment: “He showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Those rejecting God lose out on both temporal and eternal refreshment. flowing with honey and cream • “Honey and cream” evoke the covenant promise of a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). • They symbolize sweetness, richness, and complete satisfaction (Proverbs 24:13-14). For the wicked, these delights remain theoretical—always heard about, never tasted. • Psalm 34:8 invites, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” Job 20:17 reveals the tragedy of refusing that invitation: the taste never comes. • The imagery also warns that sin’s fleeting pleasures (Hebrews 11:25) cannot compare with the genuine, sustained blessings God reserves for His own (Psalm 16:11). summary Job 20:17 teaches that unrepentant wickedness shuts a person out from the very best God provides—refreshment, abundance, and lasting sweetness. Streams and rivers may continue to flow, but the sinner stands thirsty on the bank, unable to partake. The verse thus underscores the certainty of divine justice and the urgency of seeking God’s grace while it may be found. |
    |