Job 15:16

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 15:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!
Job 15:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, etc.] In his natural, corrupt, and unregenerate estate; man, as a creature, was not abominable, but becoming sinful he is; he is so in himself, cast out to the loathing of his person, being full of wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, yea, like a dead corrupted carcass, for he is dead in trespasses and sins, (<490201>Ephesians 2:1); and he appears to be corrupt by the abominable works done by him, as all the works of the flesh are; yea, he is abominable to himself, when made sensible of his state and case; he then abhors himself, and repents of his sins, he loathes his sins, and himself for them; and must be much more so in the sight of God,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“filthy--in Arabic "sour" (Psa 14:3; Psa 53:3), corrupted from his original purity. drinketh-- (Pro 19:28).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“How much more abominable and filthy is man - How much more than the angels, and than the heavens. In Job 4:19, the image is somewhat different. There it is, how can man be the object of the divine confidence since he lives in a house of clay, and is so frail? Here the image is more striking and forcible. The word rendered filthy (אלח 'âlach) means, in Arabic, to be sour, as milk, and then to be corrupt, in a moral sense; Psalms 14:3; Psalms 53:4. Here it means that man is defiled and polluted, and this declaration is a remarkable illustration of the ancient belief of the depravity of man. Which drinketh iniquity like water - This is still a true, though a melancholy account of man. He loves…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who - Who besides his natural proneness to sin, has contracted habits of sinning; and sins as freely, as greedily and delightfully, as men, especially in those hot countries, drink up water. Job 15:17”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“How much: Rather, "How much less aph kee, abominable and filthy man," who, under the influence of sinful propensities, commits sin as greedily as a thirsty man or camel drinks down water. abominable: Job 4:19, Job 42:6; Psa 14:1-3, Psa 53:3; Rom 1:28-30, Rom 3:9-19; Tit 3:3 drinketh: Job 20:12, Job 34:7; Pro 19:28 Job 15:17”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification