Job 20:16 (KJV)

What does Job 20:16 mean?

Job 20:16 says that the wicked person will suffer deadly consequences for their actions, using the image of sucking the venom of snakes and being killed by a viper’s tongue. The verse paints a vivid picture of danger and destruction that comes as a result of wrongdoing.

In this verse, Zophar is speaking to Job, warning that evil people will face swift and certain punishment. The language draws on the fearsome reputation of poisonous snakes in the ancient world, suggesting that the wicked cannot escape the harm their actions bring. The verse is part of Zophar’s larger speech about the fate of those who do wrong.

The Hebrew behind Job 20:16

• "suck" (יָנַק, yanaq): This word means to draw out or drink in, often used for nursing. Here, it emphasizes how the wicked person actively takes in something deadly, not by accident but as a result of their own actions.
• "poison" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This word refers to venom or a poisonous substance, often associated with bitterness or death. It highlights the lethal nature of what the wicked person is taking in.
• "asps" (פֶּתֶן, peten): This is a specific type of venomous snake, known for its deadly bite. Mentioning asps makes the warning more concrete and fearsome.
• "viper's" (אֶפְעֶה, eph‘eh): Another word for a venomous snake, reinforcing the idea of unavoidable, fatal danger.
• "tongue" (לָשׁוֹן, lashon): The tongue here is the part that delivers the venom, symbolizing the instrument of death.
• "slay" (הָרַג, harag): This word means to kill or destroy, leaving no doubt about the final outcome for the wicked person.

Why Job 20:16 matters

• Job 20:16 uses strong imagery to show that the consequences of evil are not just unpleasant but deadly, countering any idea that the wicked can escape judgment.
• The verse connects to Zophar’s larger argument that suffering is a direct result of wrongdoing, which is a key theme in the debates between Job and his friends.
• Understanding the specific Hebrew words for different snakes and poison helps the reader grasp how intense and immediate the threat is meant to feel in the original context.