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)
This verse paints a vivid picture of the wicked's ultimate futility: their eyes strain in vain for escape, but Zophar emphasizes that "flight perishes from them," meaning all avenues of safety disappear. Their final "hope" isn't even a real hope, but a desperate wish for death itself, like a final exhale—a stark contrast to the hope of the righteous who have a future beyond the grave.
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)
Zophar, one of Job's friends, is concluding his speech by painting a grim picture of the wicked's fate. He's arguing that Job's suffering is proof of his wickedness, and that continuing to defend himself will only lead to ruin. This verse warns Job that the wicked will find their desperate searching for relief futile, with no escape from judgment and their hopes ultimately vanishing as they die.
What happens when your entire focus is on finding a way out, but every path is blocked? Zophar paints a stark picture of the wicked's final moments.
Zophar describes the 'eyes of the wicked' as 'failing.' This isn't just about physical sight deteriorating. It represents a desperate, fruitless search for deliverance.
A Weary Gaze
Imagine straining your eyes, searching the horizon day after day for a ship that never appears. That's the picture here. The wicked look for help, for escape, for any sign of relief, but their gaze is met with emptiness. Their constant looking is born of deep distress and a longing for something they will never attain.
The Ultimate Dead End
This failing vision directly leads to the certainty that 'all way of escape will be lost to them.' There's no loophole, no secret passage, no miracle waiting in the wings for the wicked. Their relentless search will yield nothing but continued despair, confirming their utter lack of deliverance.
What is the true nature of the wicked's hope? Zophar compares it to something fragile, fleeting, and ultimately, gone.
The final phrase, 'their hope is to breathe their last,' delivers a powerful blow. It reveals the ultimate futility of the wicked's entire existence and their aspirations.
A Breath of Nothingness
This 'hope' isn't a confident expectation of good, but rather a desperate wish tied to the very end of life. It's like clinging to the last puff of air – it signifies the absolute cessation of all possibility. Their hope is not for life or deliverance, but for the finality of death itself, which offers no relief beyond oblivion.
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The Contrast with Righteous Hope
This starkly contrasts with the hope of the righteous, which endures beyond the grave. The wicked's hope is entirely earthbound and evaporates the moment life does. When they 'give up the ghost,' their hope doesn't transition or transform; it simply ceases to exist, leaving them with nothing.
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.
Zophar's words, spoken during a time of intense personal suffering for Job, reflect a common ancient Near Eastern view that prosperity and suffering were direct indicators of divine favor or judgment. This perspective deeply shaped how people understood God's dealings, often leading to simplistic conclusions about the righteous and the wicked.
c. 2000 BC
Abrahamic Covenant established
God establishes His covenant with Abraham, promising land, descendants, and blessing, setting the stage for Israel's history and the concept of righteousness before God.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites are freed from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event demonstrating God's power and judgment against oppressors.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy flourishes
Under kings like David and Solomon, Israel experiences a period of national strength and prosperity, with a unified religious and political center in Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom divides
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased political instability and religious compromise.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian conquest of Israel
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom, scattering its people and marking a significant divine judgment for apostasy.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. This event severely challenges the understanding of divine justice and faithfulness.
Date unknown, likely pre-exilic— this verse
Zophar confronts Job
Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's friends, argues that Job's intense suffering must be a direct result of hidden wickedness. This verse is part of Zophar's second speech, where he insists that the wicked ultimately face destruction and despair, and implies this is Job's fate.
This passage echoes the imagery of 'failing eyes' when waiting for God, highlighting the intense longing and potential despair when deliverance is delayed, a sentiment Job might feel and Zophar fears for the wicked.
Jeremiah 25:35The phrase 'flight shall perish from the shepherds' directly parallels Zophar's idea that 'escape will be lost to them,' emphasizing the complete inability of the wicked to flee from divine judgment.
Proverbs 11:7This proverb explicitly states that 'when the wicked dies, his hope will perish,' aligning perfectly with Zophar's assertion that the hope of the wicked is like the moment of death, vanishing completely.
Luke 16:23The story of the rich man in torment, where he 'lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom,' illustrates the enduring, yet utterly futile, hope and sight of the wicked even in their final despair.
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…
This verse paints a vivid picture of the wicked's ultimate futility: their eyes strain in vain for escape, but Zophar emphasizes that "flight perishes from them," meaning all avenues of safety disappear. Their final "hope" isn't even a real hope, but a desperate wish for death itself, like a final exhale—a stark contrast to the hope of the righteous who have a future beyond the grave.
Zophar, one of Job's friends, is concluding his speech by painting a grim picture of the wicked's fate. He's arguing that Job's suffering is proof of his wickedness, and that continuing to defend himself will only lead to ruin. This verse warns Job that the wicked will find their desperate searching for relief futile, with no escape from judgment and their hopes ultimately vanishing as they die.
Zophar, one of Job's friends, is concluding his speech by painting a grim picture of the wicked's fate. He's arguing that Job's suffering is proof of his wickedness, and that continuing to defend himself will only lead to ruin. This verse warns Job that the wicked will find their desperate searching for relief futile, with no escape from judgment and their hopes ultimately vanishing as they die.
"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.”" — This verse paints a vivid picture of the wicked's ultimate futility: their eyes strain in vain for escape, but Zophar emphasizes that "flight perishes from them," meaning all avenues of safety disapp…
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Last reviewed October 2026