Question 1

What does Job 20:21 mean?

Accepted Answer

Job 20:21 says that nothing will remain of a wicked person's food or possessions, so no one will come looking for anything he owned. The verse paints a picture of total loss, where even the things someone might expect to survive are completely gone. In this chapter, Zophar is speaking to Job, arguing that the prosperity of the wicked is short-lived. Zophar insists that those who do evil will lose everything, and their wealth or “meat” will not last. The verse emphasizes the idea that there will be no leftovers or inheritance for others to seek out, underlining the completeness of the downfall Zophar describes.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Job 20:21

Accepted Answer

The word “meat” is לֶחֶם (leḥem), which often means bread or food in general. Here, it stands for all the wicked person’s resources or wealth, not just literal food. The word “left” is שָׂרִיד (sarid), meaning something that survives or is left over. The verse stresses that nothing will survive the downfall. The word “look” is חוּל (ḥul), which can mean to search for or to wait for something. The sense is that no one will expect or search for anything from the wicked person because nothing remains. The word “goods” is טוּב (tuv), meaning goodness, property, or valuable things. This covers all the person’s possessions or wealth, reinforcing the idea of complete loss.

Question 3

Why Job 20:21 matters

Accepted Answer

Job 20:21 clarifies that Zophar sees the fate of the wicked as total and irreversible loss, not just a temporary setback or partial ruin. The verse connects to Zophar’s larger speech, where he argues that evil people cannot expect their wealth or legacy to endure, directly challenging Job’s earlier complaints about the prosperity of the wicked. Understanding the original words shows that the loss described is not just about food, but about all forms of prosperity and inheritance, highlighting the completeness of the judgment Zophar imagines.

Job 20:21 (KJV)