He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is the contrast between how a wicked person feels in the moment and how they actually are in God's reality. Their life might seem substantial and impressive, but to God, it's as fleeting and unreal as a dream or a nighttime phantom that vanishes with the dawn.
He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zophar, one of Job's friends, has launched into a harsh speech, convinced that Job's suffering is proof of his hidden wickedness. This verse is part of Zophar's argument that the wicked will have a fleeting, insubstantial existence, vanishing completely and leaving no lasting trace. It's a stark contrast to Job's own deep desire for vindication and remembrance.
Ever wake up from a vivid dream, only to have it slip through your fingers? The wicked's prosperity is just as temporary.
Zophar uses powerful imagery to describe the ultimate fate of the wicked. He compares their existence and achievements to transient phenomena:
Dreams Dissolve
Like a dream that fades upon waking, the wicked's success will disappear without a trace. They might have enjoyed riches and power, but when their time comes, it will be gone, and they themselves will be 'not found.'
Night Visions Disappear
Similarly, their lives are like visions seen in the night. These apparitions can be startling or impressive while they last, but with the morning light, they vanish completely. This highlights the insubstantial and temporary nature of the wicked's earthly reign.
It might seem like the wicked are winning, but their success is a hollow illusion, destined to disappear.
The core message here is about the ultimate lack of substance in the life of the wicked. Zophar isn't just saying they will die; he's emphasizing that their entire existence, especially their ill-gotten gains and boastful pride, lacks any real permanence or solid foundation.
A False Reality
The 'dream' and 'vision' are not just fleeting; they are also deceptive. The wicked might live as if their wealth and power are real and enduring, but in God's eyes, it's as insubstantial as a nighttime fantasy. When judgment comes, this false reality crumbles.
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Utter Annihilation
The phrase 'shall not be found' is stark. It suggests not just death, but a complete disappearance, an utter loss of any lasting impact or legacy. Their memory will fade, their influence will vanish, and their worldly achievements will count for nothing.
Understand the original words
chalohm · Hebrew Noun
Used in wisdom literature to describe that which is fleeting, unsubstantial, and illusory; it signifies something that lacks lasting reality or permanent standing.
chazon · Hebrew Noun
A supernatural manifestation or revelation, often used in scripture to signify something that seems present but is ethereal, temporary, or deceptive in its lack of permanence.
This Psalm uses the exact same imagery of a dream vanishing upon waking to describe how the wicked will be disregarded and disappear, reinforcing Job 20:8's point about the fleeting nature of their prosperity.
Isaiah 29:7-8This passage compares the fate of the enemies of God's people to a hungry person dreaming of eating, only to wake up empty, or a thirsty person dreaming of drinking, only to find nothing. This powerfully illustrates the emptiness and ultimate disappearance of wicked schemes and power, mirroring Job's description.
Proverbs 10:28This proverb states that the hope of the righteous leads to joy, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. This provides a strong thematic parallel to Job 20:8, contrasting the enduring hope of the righteous with the ephemeral and ultimately fruitless existence of the wicked.
Job 8:14-15Bildad uses similar imagery, describing the wicked man's confidence as a fragile thread that will break, leading to his destruction, and his house as a spider's web that will collapse. This shows a recurring theme in Job where the foundations of the wicked are inherently unstable and destined to vanish.
jfbJob 20:8: "He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night."
- (Ps 73:20).
clarkeJob 20:8: "He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night."
He shall fly away as a dream - Instead of rising again from corruption, as thou hast asserted, ( Job 19:26 ), with a new body, his flesh shall rot in the earth, and his spirit be dissipated like a vapor; and, like a vision of the night, nothing shall remain but the bare impression that such a creature had once existed, but shall appear no more for ever.
What's striking here is the contrast between how a wicked person feels in the moment and how they actually are in God's reality. Their life might seem substantial and impressive, but to God, it's as fleeting and unreal as a dream or a nighttime phantom that vanishes with the dawn.
Zophar, one of Job's friends, has launched into a harsh speech, convinced that Job's suffering is proof of his hidden wickedness. This verse is part of Zophar's argument that the wicked will have a fleeting, insubstantial existence, vanishing completely and leaving no lasting trace. It's a stark contrast to Job's own deep desire for vindication and remembrance.
Zophar, one of Job's friends, has launched into a harsh speech, convinced that Job's suffering is proof of his hidden wickedness. This verse is part of Zophar's argument that the wicked will have a fleeting, insubstantial existence, vanishing completely and leaving no lasting trace. It's a stark contrast to Job's own deep desire for vindication and remembrance.
"He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night." — What's striking here is the contrast between how a wicked person feels in the moment and how they actually are in God's reality. Their life might seem substantial and impressive, but to God, it's…
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Last reviewed October 2026