Job 24:20 (KJV)

What does Job 24:20 mean?

Job 24:20 describes how, after death, the wicked are quickly forgotten and their bodies are consumed by decay, with no lasting memory or honor left for them. The verse uses vivid images to show that evil people will be broken and erased, much like a tree that is cut down and destroyed.

In the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends, challenging their belief that wicked people always face punishment in this life. Here, Job paints a stark picture: the wicked may seem to prosper for a time, but in the end, they are forgotten, and their evil is brought to an end. The verse uses strong natural images—like the womb forgetting, worms feeding, and a tree being broken—to emphasize the total erasure of the wicked from memory and from the world.

The Hebrew behind Job 24:20

• "womb" (רֶחֶם, rechem): This word usually means a mother's womb, the place of nurture and origin. Here, it is used to show that even the source of life will forget the wicked, highlighting complete abandonment.
• "worm" (רִמָּה, rimmah): This refers to the creatures that consume a body after death. The image is meant to be unsettling, stressing the finality and dishonor of the wicked's fate.
• "sweetly" (מָתוֹק, matoq): This word means "pleasantly" or "sweetly," and its use here is ironic—the worms feed "sweetly" on the dead, showing that the wicked's end is not glorious but rather a feast for decay.
• "broken" (שָׁבַר, shavar): This word means "to break" or "to shatter." The comparison to a tree being broken shows the sudden and irreversible destruction of wickedness.

Why Job 24:20 matters

• Job 24:20 clears up the idea that the wicked always receive their punishment in obvious, public ways during their lives; instead, Job points out that their end is often quiet erasure.
• The verse emphasizes the totality of the wicked's downfall—not only are they physically destroyed, but even their memory and legacy are wiped away.
• This verse connects to Job’s larger argument in the chapter, where he questions simple explanations for why bad things happen and challenges his friends’ assumptions about justice and suffering.