Job 20:10 (KJV)

What does Job 20:10 mean?

Job 20:10 describes how the children of a wicked person will end up seeking favor from the poor and returning what their father had taken. The verse paints a picture of reversal, where those who once took advantage must now humble themselves and make restitution.

In context, Zophar is speaking to Job, warning that the descendants of the wicked will suffer for their ancestor’s actions. Zophar claims that even the next generation will be forced to repay the goods their father unjustly gained, showing that wrongdoing brings consequences not just for the individual but for their family as well.

The Hebrew behind Job 20:10

• "children" (בָּנִים, banim): This word refers to sons or descendants, emphasizing that the consequences extend beyond the individual to their family line.
• "please" (רָצָה, ratsah): Often means to seek favor or try to appease. Here, it suggests the children are trying to win the goodwill of those their father wronged, possibly out of desperation.
• "poor" (דַּל, dal): This word points to those who are weak or needy, highlighting the reversal—those who were once oppressed now hold the power to grant or withhold favor.
• "restore" (שׁוּב, shuv): Means to return or give back. The verse uses this to show that the ill-gotten goods must be returned, stressing the idea of restitution.

Why Job 20:10 matters

• Job 20:10 clarifies that the effects of wrongdoing can reach into the next generation, challenging the idea that only the wrongdoer suffers.
• The verse stresses the theme of justice and reversal, where those who once exploited others are brought low and must make amends.
• In the broader argument between Job and his friends, this verse shows Zophar’s belief that suffering is always a result of personal or inherited guilt, a view that is debated throughout the book.