Job 20:18 (KJV)

What does Job 20:18 mean?

Job 20:18 says that a person who gains wealth through wrongdoing will be forced to give it back and will not get to enjoy it; whatever he has will be taken from him, and he will not find happiness in what he acquired. The verse emphasizes that ill-gotten gains do not bring lasting satisfaction or joy.

In this verse, Zophar, one of Job’s friends, is speaking to Job. Zophar is describing what he believes happens to the wicked: even if they work hard and accumulate wealth, they will have to return it and will not benefit from it. The verse is part of Zophar’s argument that evil actions lead to loss and emptiness, reflecting the belief that justice will catch up with those who do wrong.

The Hebrew behind Job 20:18

• "laboured" (יָגַע, yāgaʿ): This word means to work hard or toil. Zophar is saying that even the results of a wicked person’s hard work will not last.
• "restore" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or give back. The idea is that the wicked person will be forced to give back what he gained, not keeping it for himself.
• "down" (בָּלַע, balaʿ): This word means to swallow or consume. The image is of someone not being able to fully enjoy or absorb what they have taken.
• "substance" (חַיִל, chayil): This word often refers to wealth, strength, or resources. Here, it points to the person’s possessions or riches.
• "restitution" (תְּמוּרָה, temurah): This word means compensation or repayment. It stresses that what was gained must be paid back in full.
• "rejoice" (שׂוּשׂ, sus): This word means to rejoice or exult. The verse says the wicked person will not find joy in what he has.

Why Job 20:18 matters

• Job 20:18 clarifies that Zophar sees a direct link between wrongdoing and the loss of any benefit from it, countering Job’s earlier claims that the wicked sometimes prosper.
• The verse highlights the ancient belief in moral order: that justice will eventually require the wicked to repay what they have taken, even if they worked hard for it.
• Understanding the original Hebrew words helps show that the focus is not just on losing wealth, but also on the inability to enjoy or find satisfaction in it, deepening the sense of emptiness for those who do wrong.