Job 27:15 (KJV)

What does Job 27:15 mean?

Job 27:15 says that those left in a wicked man’s family will die and be buried, and even their widows will not mourn for them. The verse paints a picture of complete ruin, where not even the closest loved ones grieve the loss.

In this part of the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends, describing the fate of the wicked as part of his defense. Job insists that, despite appearances, those who do evil will ultimately face such devastating judgment that even their families are left desolate and without comfort. This verse emphasizes the totality of their downfall, showing that their legacy ends in loneliness and dishonor.

The Hebrew behind Job 27:15

• "remain" (שָׂרִיד, sarid): This word refers to survivors or those left behind. Here, it highlights that even the few who escape an initial disaster will not escape death in the end.
• "buried" (קָבַר, qavar): This verb simply means to be buried, but in this context, it underscores the finality and inevitability of death for the wicked’s survivors.
• "death" (מָוֶת, mavet): This word means death, and its use here stresses that burial is not just a ritual but the end of hope for the family line.
• "widows" (אַלְמָנָה, almanah): This term refers to women whose husbands have died. The verse notes that these widows will not weep, which is striking because mourning was a deeply expected custom.
• "weep" (בָּכָה, bakah): This verb means to weep or mourn. The lack of weeping signals either a lack of love, exhaustion from repeated loss, or a sense that the deaths are deserved.

Why Job 27:15 matters

• Job 27:15 clarifies that Job is not claiming the wicked always prosper; instead, he describes their eventual, total ruin, countering his friends’ oversimplified view of justice.
• The verse’s mention of widows not weeping shows just how complete the wicked man’s downfall is—so severe that even normal human sympathy is absent.
• This verse fits into Job’s larger argument about the mysteriousness of God’s justice, showing that outward appearances do not always reveal the final outcome for the wicked.