What is the meaning of Job 20:29? This is “This is” signals a settled verdict, not a hasty opinion. Zophar draws a decisive line under his preceding words, much like Moses does when he declares, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today” (Deuteronomy 30:19), or Jesus when He says, “Truly, truly, I tell you” (John 5:24). The phrasing tells readers they are looking at a final, unchanging statement about the destiny of the wicked. the wicked man’s portion - “Portion” points to the lot or share that rightly falls to someone, reminiscent of Psalm 16:5: “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance.” - Here, the share belongs to “the wicked,” those who refuse God’s ways (Psalm 1:4–6; Isaiah 3:11). - Instead of a pleasant inheritance, their lot is judgment, echoing Psalm 11:6: “On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and brimstone.” - Zophar’s insistence harmonizes with the broader biblical promise that sin’s wages are death (Romans 6:23), not merely temporal setbacks. from God Judgment originates “from God,” underscoring divine justice rather than random fate. - Proverbs 10:29 affirms, “Destruction comes to the workers of iniquity,” yet that destruction flows through God’s righteous rule. - Revelation 19:2 celebrates, “His judgments are true and just,” reminding us that whatever comes upon the wicked is perfectly measured by the One who knows every heart (Jeremiah 17:10). - This truth also comforts believers that evil never gets the last word; God does (Nahum 1:3). the inheritance An inheritance is typically long-term, passing to future generations. In this context: - The wicked hand down calamity, not blessing, mirroring Proverbs 3:33: “The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked.” - Their “inheritance” includes both earthly collapse (Job 15:29) and eternal loss (Matthew 25:46). - Conversely, “the meek will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5), highlighting the stark contrast between saints and rebels. God has appointed him “Appointed” stresses sovereignty. What happens to the wicked is not accidental but scheduled by God’s timetable. - Acts 17:31 speaks of a day God “has appointed” to judge the world by Christ. - Job himself later concedes, “I know that You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). - This divine appointment guards against envy when the wicked prosper temporarily (Psalm 73:17–19); their outcome is already set. summary Job 20:29 anchors hope for the righteous and issues a sober warning to the rebellious. The verse certifies that: - God personally determines each person’s ultimate portion. - For the wicked, that portion is judgment, lasting and certain. - His sovereign appointment cannot be overturned. Believers can therefore rest assured that justice will prevail, while the wicked are urged to repent before their appointed inheritance is irrevocably delivered. |
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