Job 22:20 (KJV)

What does Job 22:20 mean?

Job 22:20 describes how, while the speaker’s own group has not been destroyed, the survivors of the wicked have been consumed by fire. The verse draws a contrast between the security of one group and the destruction that has come upon another, highlighting a sense of judgment or retribution.

In this part of the book of Job, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, arguing that the wicked ultimately face ruin while the righteous are spared. The verse reflects Eliphaz’s belief that disaster overtakes only the guilty, and he points to the fate of the wicked as evidence. This is part of his attempt to persuade Job that suffering is always a result of wrongdoing.

The Hebrew behind Job 22:20

• The word “substance” comes from קֶנֶה (qeneh), which often refers to wealth or possessions. Here, it suggests the material well-being or prosperity of a group.
• The word “remnant” is שְׁאֵרִית (she’erit), meaning those left over or survivors. This emphasizes that even those who escape an initial disaster are not safe from further judgment.
• The word “fire” is אֵשׁ (’esh), a common symbol for destruction or divine judgment in the Hebrew Bible. Its use here underlines the completeness of the calamity that overtakes the wicked.
• The word “consumeth” is אָכַל (’akal), meaning to eat or devour. This makes the image vivid: the fire doesn’t just touch but completely destroys what remains.

Why Job 22:20 matters

• Job 22:20 helps clarify that Eliphaz is using the visible ruin of the wicked as proof for his argument, which is a key theme in the debates between Job and his friends.
• The verse shows the friends’ misunderstanding of suffering, as they assume all disaster is a direct result of personal sin, which the rest of the book challenges.
• The language of fire consuming the remnant connects to other biblical images of judgment, helping readers see how Job’s friends interpret suffering through the lens of retribution.