Job 27:20 (KJV)

What does Job 27:20 mean?

Job 27:20 describes how sudden fear and disaster overwhelm a person, just as floodwaters or a violent storm can sweep someone away unexpectedly during the night. The verse uses vivid images to show how quickly and powerfully trouble can come upon someone who seems secure.

In this part of the book, Job is speaking to his friends, continuing his speech about the fate of the wicked. He uses the picture of terrors and storms to illustrate that those who do wrong may be overtaken by calamity without warning, losing everything in an instant. The verse emphasizes the unpredictability and force of such judgment.

The Hebrew behind Job 27:20

• "Terrors" (בַלָּהוֹת, ballahot): This word refers to intense fears or panic, not just ordinary worry. Job uses it to describe overwhelming dread that strikes suddenly.
• "Waters" (מַיִם, mayim): The image of waters often represents chaos or unstoppable force in Hebrew poetry. Here, it highlights how fear can come in a flood, unstoppable and engulfing.
• "Tempest" (סוּפָה, suphah): This word means a violent storm or whirlwind. It suggests not just rain, but a destructive force that can uproot and destroy.
• "Away" (גָּנַב, ganav): This verb means to steal or carry off secretly. The idea is that disaster comes quietly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

Why Job 27:20 matters

• Job 27:20 helps clear up the idea that the wicked are always safe and prosperous; Job insists that disaster can come upon them suddenly and without warning.
• The verse connects to Job’s larger argument that appearances can be deceiving—just because someone seems secure does not mean they are safe from judgment or trouble.
• The vivid images of water and storm deepen the emotional impact, showing that the downfall of the wicked is not just likely, but can be overwhelming and inescapable.