Job 15:35 (KJV)

What does Job 15:35 mean?

Job 15:35 describes people who plot trouble, give birth to worthless things, and prepare lies deep within themselves. The verse uses the image of conceiving and giving birth to show how wrongdoing starts as an idea and grows until it results in harmful actions and deceit.

In this verse, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, warning about the fate of the wicked. Eliphaz claims that those who plan evil will only produce emptiness and deception, suggesting that evil intentions inevitably lead to empty and false outcomes. The language paints a vivid picture of wrongdoing as something that develops internally before coming out into the open.

The Hebrew behind Job 15:35

• "Conceive" (הָרָה, harah): This word is often used for pregnancy, but here it is used figuratively for starting or nurturing evil plans. It shows that wrongdoing begins deep inside a person.
• "Vanity" (אָוֶן, aven): This word means emptiness, trouble, or worthlessness. It emphasizes that the results of evil actions are ultimately empty and without real value.
• "Belly" (בֶּטֶן, beten): In Hebrew thought, the belly often represents the inner self or the seat of emotions and motives. Here, it highlights that deceit is prepared deep within a person, not just on the surface.

Why Job 15:35 matters

• Job 15:35 helps clarify that Eliphaz sees evil as something that starts internally and inevitably leads to destructive results, not just as outward actions.
• The verse connects to Eliphaz’s larger argument that suffering is the natural outcome of wickedness, which is a key theme in his speeches to Job.
• Understanding the figurative language of conception and birth in this verse helps the reader see how the Bible often describes sin as a process that begins in the heart before it becomes visible.