The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What’s easily missed is the intense internal torment that fuels the wicked person's life. They aren't just experiencing external hardship, but are "travailing with pain," meaning they are actively tormenting themselves with constant fear, anxiety, and dread over how few years they might have left. This internal agony is a self-inflicted wound, stemming from their own actions and the gnawing knowledge that their time is uncertain.
The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Eliphaz is directly responding to Job's insistence on his own righteousness, arguing that suffering is a clear sign of wickedness. He's painting a stark picture of the wicked life, asserting that their prosperity is merely a temporary illusion masking a reality of internal torment and constant fear of impending doom. This verse emphasizes that even if their years seem long, they are filled with anxiety and dread, and the ultimate end is uncertain and fearsome.
The wicked may seem to have it all, but Job's friend Eliphaz reveals a hidden reality: their lives are a constant struggle.
Eliphaz uses the powerful imagery of "travail" to describe the wicked person's existence. This isn't just physical pain, but a deep, internal torment.
Beneath the surface of the wicked's life lies a profound uncertainty about what tomorrow holds, fueling their anxiety.
The second part of the verse points to a critical source of the wicked's torment: the unknown duration of their lives and the certainty of an end.
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Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Noun
In the context of Job, refers to one who is morally guilty, an offender against God's law, and an antagonist to the righteous. It describes a person who persists in a life of rebellion against God.
arits · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to one who is cruel, violent, or oppressive toward others. It describes a person who lacks compassion and acts with harshness, often in the pursuit of selfish gain.
This passage offers a contrasting perspective to Job 15:20, highlighting how the wicked often appear to prosper and live without the apparent suffering described by Eliphaz, raising questions about immediate divine retribution.
Proverbs 1:26-27This proverb echoes the theme of impending doom for the wicked, suggesting that their perceived security will vanish like a storm and disaster when they least expect it, aligning with the idea of their future being uncertain and filled with dread.
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13This passage directly addresses the apparent impunity of the wicked, noting that they often appear to escape judgment and live long lives, which can trouble the righteous, thus resonating with the complexity of the wicked's experience beyond immediate suffering.
Jeremiah 17:11This verse provides a direct parallel to the inner torment and insecurity of those who unjustly gain wealth, stating that they will 'leave their riches in the midst of their days' and 'be put to shame,' which aligns with the idea of their prosperity being temporary and fraught with anxiety.
ellicottJob 15:20: "The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor."
(20) Travaileth with pain. —This and the following verses contain the result of this experience. Here, again, we have a highly-coloured and poetical description of the oppressor, true to the character of the speaker in Job 4:12 , &c. We should read Job 15:20 : The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor. It is not an…
bensonJob 15:20: "The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor."
Job 15:20 . The wicked man travaileth with pain — That is, 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. The number of his years is hidden — He knows not how short the time of his life is, and therefore lives in continual fear of losing it. To the oppressor — To the wicked man: he names this one sort o…
What’s easily missed is the intense internal torment that fuels the wicked person's life. They aren't just experiencing external hardship, but are "travailing with pain," meaning they are actively tormenting themselves with constant fear, anxiety, and dread over how few years they might have left. This internal agony is a self-inflicted wound, stemming from their own actions and the gnawing knowledge that their time is uncertain.
Eliphaz is directly responding to Job's insistence on his own righteousness, arguing that suffering is a clear sign of wickedness. He's painting a stark picture of the wicked life, asserting that their prosperity is merely a temporary illusion masking a reality of internal torment and constant fear of impending doom. This verse emphasizes that even if their years seem long, they are filled with anxiety and dread, and the ultimate end is uncertain and fearsome.
Eliphaz is directly responding to Job's insistence on his own righteousness, arguing that suffering is a clear sign of wickedness. He's painting a stark picture of the wicked life, asserting that their prosperity is merely a temporary illusion masking a reality of internal torment and constant fear of impending doom. This verse emphasizes that even if their years seem long, they are filled with anxiety and dread, and the ultimate end is uncertain and fearsome.
"The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless." — What’s easily missed is the intense internal torment that fuels the wicked person's life. They aren't just experiencing external hardship, but are "travailing with pain," meaning they are actively to…
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Last reviewed October 2026