Job 11:20
But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "escape will be lost to them" is a powerful image, literally meaning "refuge perishes from them." It’s not just that they won’t find a way out, but that any possibility of refuge itself vanishes, leaving them utterly exposed. Their hope isn't just disappointed; it's as fleeting and final as a last breath, utterly gone when they need it most.
Zophar concludes his speech by painting a bleak picture of the wicked's ultimate fate, implying this is Job's destiny if he doesn't repent. This verse acts as a harsh warning, suggesting that even their desperate searching for escape or relief will be in vain, ending only in death and despair. It underscores Zophar's belief that outward suffering is a direct sign of inner wickedness that ultimately leads to destruction.
Imagine desperately scanning the horizon for a ship that never comes, or a rescuer who is nowhere to be found. Zophar paints a vivid picture of the wicked's future.
The verse uses the image of failing eyes to describe the ultimate futility of the wicked's pursuits. This isn't just about physical sight; it speaks to a complete exhaustion of their efforts and expectations.
Futile Searching
The wicked are portrayed as constantly looking for help, escape, or relief. Their eyes 'fail' because what they are searching for will never materialize. It’s a picture of hope deferred that makes the heart sick, but with no prospect of eventual fulfillment.
A Different Kind of Hope
This contrasts sharply with the hope found in God. While the wicked’s hope is based on fleeting earthly possibilities, the believer’s hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness, even amidst suffering. As Psalm 69:3 says, the Psalmist's eyes failed from waiting for God, yet his trust remained.
When disaster strikes, we instinctively look for a way out, a safe place to hide. But what happens when every door is shut, and every hiding place is gone?
The phrase 'all way of escape will be lost to them' emphasizes the absolute finality of the wicked's predicament. There is no loophole, no back door, no hidden path to safety.
The Vanishing Refuge
Zophar declares that for the wicked, 'flight perishes from them' or 'safety leaves them.' This isn't just a temporary setback; it's a complete severance from any possibility of deliverance. All their clever plans, their powerful connections, their hidden schemes – none of it will offer them refuge when judgment finally arrives.
Divine Justice at Work
This speaks to the unwavering justice of God. While He is merciful, His justice ensures that wickedness will ultimately face its consequences. For those who persistently reject Him, there will be no escaping the ultimate reckoning.
Understand the original words
rasha · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who act in defiance of God's moral law. Biblically, they are characterized by their rejection of divine wisdom, lack of repentance, and ultimate separation from God’s blessing.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The cessation of life; the transition from physical existence on earth. In the Bible, it is the result of the fall, yet for the righteous, it is not the end of existence but a movement toward God.
This passage echoes the sentiment of 'eyes failing' as a descriptor for intense longing and desperate waiting, mirroring the wicked's futile anticipation in Job.
Jeremiah 25:35The phrase 'flight shall perish from the shepherds' in Jeremiah directly parallels the idea in Job that all means of escape are lost to the wicked, emphasizing their complete helplessness.
Proverbs 11:7This proverb states that 'when the wicked dies, his hope will perish,' directly supporting Zophar's conclusion that the wicked's hope ends with their last breath, just as Job describes.
Luke 16:23The story of the rich man in torment, lifting his eyes and seeing the gulf separating him from Abraham, illustrates a desperate hope that fails and an eternal lack of escape, much like the fate described for the wicked in Job.
bensonJob 11:20: "But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost."
Job 11:20 . The eyes of the wicked shall fail — Either through grief and tears for their sore calamities, or with long looking for what they shall never attain. Failing of the eyes is one of those expressions in Scripture to be admired for its beauteous simplicity. It represents a very eager and passionate desire to obtain that which we are in pursuit of: and, at…
pooleJob 11:20: "But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost."
Fail; or be consumed ; either with grief and fears for their sore calamities; or with long looking for what they shall never attain, as this phrase is taken, Psalm 69:3 Jeremiah 14:6 Lamentations 4:17 . And this shall be thy condition, O Job, if thou persistest in thine impiety. They shall not escape; they shall never obtain deliverance out of their distresses, b…
The phrase "escape will be lost to them" is a powerful image, literally meaning "refuge perishes from them." It’s not just that they won’t find a way out, but that any possibility of refuge itself vanishes, leaving them utterly exposed. Their hope isn't just disappointed; it's as fleeting and final as a last breath, utterly gone when they need it most.
Zophar concludes his speech by painting a bleak picture of the wicked's ultimate fate, implying this is Job's destiny if he doesn't repent. This verse acts as a harsh warning, suggesting that even their desperate searching for escape or relief will be in vain, ending only in death and despair. It underscores Zophar's belief that outward suffering is a direct sign of inner wickedness that ultimately leads to destruction.
Zophar concludes his speech by painting a bleak picture of the wicked's ultimate fate, implying this is Job's destiny if he doesn't repent. This verse acts as a harsh warning, suggesting that even their desperate searching for escape or relief will be in vain, ending only in death and despair. It underscores Zophar's belief that outward suffering is a direct sign of inner wickedness that ultimately leads to destruction.
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What is hope? It's the lifeblood of the soul, the fuel that keeps us going. But Zophar describes a hope so fragile, it expires with a final gasp.
The final image Zophar uses is that the wicked's hope 'is to breathe their last.' This is a profound and chilling metaphor for the utter demise of their expectations.
A Hope That Dies
Unlike the enduring hope of believers, which can even thrive in the face of death, the wicked's hope is tied entirely to their earthly existence. When they die, their hope dies with them. It’s a 'dying hope,' or as some translations put it, 'a puff of breath' – something that vanishes in an instant, leaving nothing behind.
The Contrast with Righteous Hope
This starkly contrasts with the hope of the righteous, who have confidence that their hope transcends the grave and finds its ultimate fulfillment in eternity. The wicked’s hope is extinguished at death, while the righteous anticipate a hope that is resurrected in glory.
This devastating outcome is Zophar's warning to Job: if Job continues on his perceived path, this will be his inevitable end.
"But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”" — The phrase "escape will be lost to them" is a powerful image, literally meaning "refuge perishes from them." It’s not just that they won’t find a way out, but that any possibility of refuge itself va…
