Job 20:17 (KJV)

What does Job 20:17 mean?

Job 20:17 describes how the wicked person will not experience prosperity or delight, pictured as missing out on “the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.” The verse uses rich images of abundance to show that such a person will be denied the good things in life.

In this part of the book of Job, Zophar is speaking to Job and arguing that evil people will ultimately lose out on blessings and satisfaction. The verse uses the imagery of flowing streams and luxurious foods to emphasize the fullness of what the wicked will miss. This is part of Zophar’s larger speech warning that wrongdoing leads to emptiness and loss.

The Hebrew behind Job 20:17

• “Rivers” (פַּלְגֵי־, palgei): This word often refers to channels or streams that bring life and fertility, highlighting the idea of missing out on what sustains and refreshes.
• “Floods” (נָהָר, nahar): This term usually means a large river, suggesting abundance and plenty; its use here stresses the scale of what the wicked will not enjoy.
• “Brooks” (נַחַל, nachal): This word points to smaller streams or seasonal watercourses, adding to the picture of all kinds of blessings being withheld.
• “Honey” (דְּבַשׁ, devash) and “Butter” (חֶמְאָה, chemah): These foods were symbols of luxury and richness in ancient times, so their mention underlines the loss of both sweetness and richness in life.

Why Job 20:17 matters

• Job 20:17 helps clarify that Zophar’s argument is not just about punishment, but about being cut off from all forms of joy and prosperity, using vivid, everyday images.
• The verse connects to the wider speech by showing how Zophar believes the wicked will be deprived of blessings that are both physical (food, water) and symbolic (satisfaction, happiness).
• Understanding these images helps the reader see the depth of what is being denied, rather than just a simple lack of material wealth.