Job 15:30
What is Job 15:30 about? Read the meaning and summary with full commentary explained, historical context, verse insights, word analysis, and cross-references.
Job chapter 15 - Eliphaz’s Escalating Accusation
Job 15 initiates the second cycle of dialogue with Eliphaz launching a much sharper attack, accusing Job of undermining the fear of God with his ‘empty’ knowledge. He appeals to the wisdom of the ancients to prove that the wicked always experience inner turmoil and eventual ruin, implying Job is among them.
Job 15:30
ESV: he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.
KJV: He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
NIV: He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away.
NKJV: He will not depart from darkness; The flame will dry out his branches, And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
NLT: "They will not escape the darkness.
The burning sun will wither their shoots,
and the breath of God will destroy them.
Meaning
Eliphaz declares that the wicked person will find no refuge or deliverance from the encompassing darkness of their judgment. Their prosperity, likened to tender vegetation, will be completely consumed and their very existence will be swept away by a sudden, decisive act of divine power, signifying a final and unavoidable ruin.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 18:5-6 | Indeed, the light of the wicked will be extinguished... | Fate of wicked's prosperity extinguished |
| Ps 1:4 | The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. | Wicked swept away, no lasting place |
| Ps 37:2 | For they will soon fade like the grass And wither like the green herb. | Prosperity withering |
| Ps 33:6 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. | God's creative and powerful breath |
| Isa 11:4 | ...with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. | God's breath as a weapon of judgment |
| 2 Thes 2:8 | ...the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth... | Christ's breath for destruction of the wicked |
| Jn 3:19-20 | ...men loved the darkness instead of the Light, for their deeds were evil. | Moral basis of darkness as judgment |
| Mt 8:12 | ...but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness... | Eternal darkness as judgment for wicked |
| Jude 1:13 | ...for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever. | Reserving severe darkness for judgment |
| Prov 13:9 | The lamp of the wicked will be put out. | Prosperity and light removed |
| Prov 24:20 | For there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. | Lack of future, light removed |
| Num 16:30 | ...the earth opens its mouth and swallows them... | Divine, sudden, unusual judgment |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's nature as destructive judgment |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace... | Future day of fiery judgment |
| Isa 30:33 | ...the breath of the LORD, like a torrent of sulfur, sets it afire. | God's breath causing fiery destruction |
| Zeph 1:15 | A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. | Darkness associated with Day of the LORD |
| Isa 40:24 | Scarcely have they been planted... He merely breathes on them, and they wither... | Divine breath causing immediate withering |
| Ps 73:18-19 | ...You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! | Sudden destruction of the wicked |
| Jer 22:23 | How favored you are, planted by the waters, a fruitful tree. | Imagery of trees/sprouts for prosperity |
| Ps 90:5-6 | ...like grass which sprouts anew... in the evening it is cut down and withers. | Frailty of life and swift judgment |
| Jer 17:6 | For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes... | Spiritual dryness, opposite of thriving plants |
| Lk 3:9 | ...every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | Withering and fire for unfruitfulness |
Context
Job 15:30 is part of Eliphaz's second discourse to Job (Job 15:1-35). Having begun with rebuking Job for his presumptuous words, Eliphaz moves to a traditional wisdom exposition on the fate of the wicked. He details their ultimate doom, emphasizing that no matter their apparent temporary success, their end is swift, comprehensive, and divinely ordained. Eliphaz's argument is rooted in the belief that God metes out justice directly according to a person's deeds, and thus Job's suffering must be a sign of his wickedness. This particular verse describes the inescapable judgment the wicked face, touching upon darkness, destruction of offspring/prosperity, and divine power as agents of their ruin, directly linking Job's state to what he perceives as divine retribution for unconfessed sin.
Word analysis
- He will not escape: The Hebrew term suggests an inability to turn back, find a way out, or flee. It speaks of a finality and inescapability, indicating that no defense, strength, or strategy of the wicked can avert the coming judgment. It denotes a certain, inevitable doom.
- from darkness: (Hebrew: choshekh, חֹשֶׁךְ) This term refers to profound gloom and obscurity. Biblically, darkness often symbolizes spiritual ignorance, sin, judgment, death, or separation from God's light and favor. In this context, it suggests an impenetrable and perpetual state of distress, calamity, and a lack of hope or insight.
- The flame: (Hebrew: shalhevet, שַׁלְהֶבֶת) Implies a powerful, blazing fire, an active consuming force. It represents divine judgment, the swift and thorough destruction of all that sustains life or provides warmth, hope, and security. Fire is a frequent biblical image for divine wrath.
- will wither: Describes the drying up and decay of vegetation, signifying the loss of vitality, life, and the capacity for growth. It denotes a sudden cessation of thriving and blooming.
- his sprouts: (Hebrew: yonqath, יוֹנַקְתּוֹ) This term literally means "young shoots" or "tender offspring," often referring to young plants or progeny. Metaphorically, it represents the wicked person's flourishing prosperity, strength, descendants, and future hopes. Its withering indicates the end of their legacy, future, and apparent success.
- And by the breath of His mouth: (Hebrew: b'ruakh piv) "His" refers to God. This phrase attributes ultimate destructive power directly to God's utterance or command. In Scripture, God's "breath" or "word" is immensely potent, capable of creation (Gen 1) or instantaneous annihilation (Ps 33:6; Isa 11:4). It is a rapid, effortless, and irresistible divine action.
- he will be taken away: Signifies removal, destruction, or outright obliteration. It speaks to the swiftness and completeness of the wicked individual's end, implying they will vanish without a trace or memory, as if swept away by a sudden gale.
Words-Group Analysis
- "He will not escape from darkness": This phrase underscores the wicked's absolute inability to evade divine retribution. The "darkness" is not merely an absence of light but a pervasive state of inescapable judgment and calamity, signifying a complete loss of joy, security, and hope. It is a judgment from which there is no return.
- "The flame will wither his sprouts": This vivid imagery contrasts flourishing life (sprouts/tender shoots, representing prosperity, vitality, and descendants) with destructive divine judgment (the flame). It means the very sources of the wicked person's comfort, future, and legacy will be violently and completely consumed, leaving nothing to continue or inherit.
- "And by the breath of His mouth he will be taken away": This highlights the ultimate divine sovereignty and power in judgment. The "breath of His mouth" represents an effortless yet omnipotent decree from God. It conveys that God's word alone is sufficient to swiftly and totally remove the wicked, demonstrating a powerful, unchallengeable authority over life and death.
Commentary
Job 15:30 succinctly portrays Eliphaz's stern pronouncement regarding the fate of the wicked, which he intends to apply to Job. He asserts that the wicked person's doom is certain and complete. The imagery used, "darkness," "flame," "wither," and "breath of His mouth," combine to depict an inescapable, comprehensive, and divinely executed destruction. "Darkness" speaks to the total lack of divine favor, light, or future prospects; it's a state of despair. "The flame" devouring "sprouts" signifies the complete obliteration of their prosperity, offspring, and future legacy. This is not a slow decline but a sudden, violent consumption of everything that represents their earthly success or continuation. Furthermore, the cause of this destruction, "the breath of His mouth," emphasizes that God's powerful, effortless decree brings about this swift and utter removal. It is a swift, powerful, and definitive act of divine judgment. This verse encapsulates a conventional understanding of divine justice prevalent among Job's friends, failing to consider the complexities of suffering or God's sovereignty beyond retributive justice.
Bonus section
The poetic force of this verse relies heavily on contrasting imagery: flourishing life ("sprouts") brought to nothing by a consuming agent ("flame" and "breath"). It exemplifies the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition where prosperity was often equated with righteousness and calamity with wickedness, though the Book of Job itself challenges this oversimplified direct correlation. Eliphaz’s speech here serves as a potent reminder of the common, yet often flawed, human attempt to systematize divine justice based solely on observable circumstances rather than the mysterious and sovereign will of God. The divine "breath" is especially powerful as a theological concept, moving beyond mere metaphor to depict God’s direct, irresistible intervention.
Read job 15 chapter and explore various translations, from word-for-word KJV and ESV to thought-for-thought NIV and NLT.
Watch as Eliphaz stops listening to Job’s pain and starts preaching about the inevitable destruction of the ungodly. Begin your study with job 15 summary.
Eliphaz claims that Job’s own mouth condemns him, suggesting that the very act of questioning God is proof of guilt. The ‘Word Secret’ is *Ruach*, used here for ‘windy knowledge,’ mocking Job's arguments as nothing more than hot air that lacks spiritual substance. Discover the riches with job 15 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
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