Job 15:20

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 15:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
Job 15:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The wicked man travaileth with pain all [his] days, etc.] Either to commit iniquity, which he is at great pains to do, and even to weariness; and, agreeably to the metaphor used, he conceives it in his heart, he travails with it in his mind, and he brings forth falsehood and a lie, what disappoints him, and which issues in death, eternal death, (see <190714>Psalm 7:14-16 <590114> James 1:14,15); or to get wealth and riches, in obtaining of which he pierces himself through with many sorrows; and these being like thorns, in using them he gets many a scratch, and has a good deal of trouble, pain, and uneasiness in keeping them, insomuch that he cannot sleep comfortably through fear of losing…”
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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
“travaileth--rather, "trembleth of himself," though there is no real danger [UMBREIT]. and the number of his years, &c.--This gives the reason why the wicked man trembles continually; namely, because he knows not the moment when his life must end.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Travaileth with pain - That is, his sorrows are like the pains of parturition. Eliphaz means to say that he is a constant sufferer. All his days - It seems difficult to see how they could have ever formed this universal maxim. It is certainly not literally true now; nor was it ever. But in order to convey the doctrine that the wicked would be punished in as pointed and striking a manner as possible, it was made to assume this universal form - meaning that the life of the wicked would be miserable. There is some reason to think that this and what follows to the close of the chapter, is an ancient fragment which Eliphaz rehearses as containing the sentiments of a purer age of the world. And…”
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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
“Pain - Lives a life of care, and fear, and grief, by reason of God's wrath, the torments of his own mind, and his outward calamities. Hidden - He knows not how short the time of his life is, and therefore lives in continual fear of losing it. Oppressor - To the wicked man: he names this one sort of them, because he supposed Job to be guilty of this sin, in opposition of what Job had affirmed of the safety of such persons, Job 12:6, and because such are apt to promise themselves a longer and happier life than other men. Job 15:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:20-35 The wicked also suffer everything that happened to Job (see 1:16-19)—attacks by marauders (15:21), loss of possessions (15:29), crumbled houses (15:28), and fire (15:30, 34).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“travaileth: Rom 8:22; Ecc 9:3 the number: Psa 90:3, Psa 90:4, Psa 90:12; Luk 12:19-21; Jam 5:1-6 Job 15:21”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“20 So long as the ungodly liveth he suffereth, And numbered years are reserved for the tyrant. 21 Terrors sound in his ears; In time of peace the destroyer cometh upon him. 22 He believeth not in a return from darkness, And he is selected for the sword. 23 He roameth about after bread: "Ah! where is it?" He knoweth that a dark day is near at hand for him. 24 Trouble and anguish terrify him; They seize him as a king ready to the battle. All the days of the ungodly he (the ungodly) is sensible of pain. רשׁע stands, like Elohim in Gen 9:6, by the closer definition; here however so, that this defining ends after the manner of a premiss, and is begun by הוּא after the manner of a conclusion.…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification