Job 27 23

Job 27:23

ESV: It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place.

KJV: Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

NIV: It claps its hands in derision and hisses him out of his place."

NKJV: Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.

NLT: But everyone jeers at them
and mocks them.

Meaning

Job 27:23 portrays the public scorn and complete downfall of the wicked, indicating a universal condemnation where people collectively demonstrate their contempt and rejoice at the wicked individual's utter disgrace and removal from their place of prominence or perceived security. It illustrates a complete reversal of fortune, where previous pride and power give way to widespread humiliation.

Cross References

Context

Job 27 is a significant part of Job’s final discourse, wherein he reiterates his unwavering righteousness and defends his integrity against his friends’ accusations. Despite his suffering, Job upholds God’s justice and the ultimate fate of the wicked. He asserts that while the wicked may prosper for a time, their end is ruin and disgrace. This specific verse, Job 27:23, concludes Job's description of the comprehensive destruction and public humiliation awaiting those who abandon God's ways, contrasting sharply with the comfortable end his friends believed only the righteous enjoyed. It's a statement by Job, in a rhetorical display, reinforcing divine retribution, even if its timing remains a mystery.

Word analysis

• Men (אֲנָשִׁים - ʾanāšîm): This refers to "people" or "mankind" generally, signifying a collective public consensus. The implication is that this derision is widespread and not limited to a few detractors, making the humiliation complete and undeniable.
• will clap (יִשְׂרֹקוּ - yiśroqû): The Hebrew root שָׂרַק (saraq) is onomatopoeic, often meaning "to hiss" or "to whistle," and sometimes "to clap." In contexts of public display, particularly when combined with hands, it denotes gestures of scorn, astonishment, or ridicule rather than applause. It's a public sign of contempt.
• their hands (עַל־יָדָיו - ʾal-yāḏāw): "Upon his hands." This is the common Hebrew idiom for "clapping hands." In this verse, combined with the verb saraq, it powerfully expresses scornful, mocking, and celebratory condemnation over the wicked's fall, akin to reveling in their public shame.
• and hiss him (וְיִשְׂרְקֵהוּ - wəyiśrəqêhû): The repetition of the root שָׂרַק (saraq), but here clearly translated as "hiss," intensifies the public ridicule. It's a vocal expression of disdain, contempt, and utter rejection. This direct hissing underscores a deeply ingrained and universal loathing for the wicked's actions and ultimate downfall.
• from his place (מִמְּקֹומֹו - miməqōmōw): This phrase signifies complete displacement, removal, or expulsion from a position of security, power, or honor. It means the wicked lose their footing, their status, their stability, and often their very existence or memory in that once-held place. It's a spatial and societal exile, marking the end of their influence or presence.

Words-group analysis

• Men will clap their hands at him and hiss him: This combined action describes an intense, universal, and publicly displayed act of scorn and celebration at the wicked person's disgrace. It is a ritual of public humiliation and utter rejection, often associated with a reversal of divine judgment. The 'clapping' is not approval but derisive, signaling relief or triumph over the downfall of a once-powerful or threatening figure.
• hiss him from his place: This phrase vividly paints a picture of violent expulsion and the utter loss of position or security. It implies not just personal ruin but also a stripping away of any social standing, power, or dwelling the wicked individual once enjoyed. It marks a complete and irreversible ousting, demonstrating that even those who once benefited from or feared the wicked will join in their condemnation.

Commentary

Job 27:23 provides a stark illustration of the wicked's ultimate destiny according to Job's theological understanding: utter and irreversible public humiliation. Far from a quiet departure, their end is marked by scornful gestures and vocal expressions of contempt from onlookers. The repeated Hebrew verb for "hissing" emphasizes the profound societal revulsion. This public derision, manifested by clapping hands in a gesture of scorn and active hissing, serves as a universal testimony to God's righteous judgment. It signifies the wicked's complete loss of standing, their removal from any position of influence or safety, and the final revelation of their true condition. Job’s statement underscores a divine moral order where wickedness, regardless of temporary prosperity, will inevitably lead to profound disgrace and ruin, affirming God's ultimate justice and validating the long-held beliefs that virtue will eventually be rewarded and evil punished.

Bonus section

The strong imagery in Job 27:23 contrasts the public condemnation of the wicked with what was often Job's own quiet suffering. While his friends desired a public declaration of his sin to justify his calamities, Job predicts a similar, yet justly deserved, public shaming for the genuinely wicked. This aligns with broader biblical themes where God often brings about public reversals to showcase His justice, making the downfall of the wicked an object lesson for others. The verse speaks not just of physical ruin but of reputation's collapse, implying a profound moral bankruptcy finally made evident to all.

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