Job 27:23 Meaning Explained

Job 27:23

It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The verse describes "men" acting with "malignant gladness" and "contempt" as they clap and hiss, showing that the wicked man's downfall isn't just an abstract event, but something that will elicit a visceral, scornful reaction from others, driving him out from any place of honor or influence he once held. This isn't just about punishment, but about public disgrace and utter rejection.

What Job 27:23 means

Job is summarizing the destructive fate awaiting the wicked, particularly the hypocrite who claims righteousness but acts wickedly. He's directly challenging his friends' persistent belief that terrible suffering is always a sign of hidden sin, arguing instead that the wicked often prosper in this life. This verse paints a vivid picture of the public disgrace and utter ruin that will ultimately befall such a person, a fate Job insists is justly deserved.

Scornful Gestures of Rejection

Imagine the sound and sight: clapping hands and hissing. What does this visceral reaction reveal about how society treats the wicked?

This verse paints a stark picture of public disgrace.

A Parade of Shame

Clapping hands, in this context, isn't applause for a job well done. It's a gesture of malignant joy, astonishment, and contempt. It signifies a community's relief at being rid of a tyrant or a public nuisance. Hissing, similarly, is an ancient and modern way to express utter disdain and scorn. It’s the sound of a crowd driving someone out, showing they are unwanted and despised.

The Wicked's Final Exit

These actions aren't random; they represent a communal judgment. When people clap and hiss, they are actively participating in the rejection of the wicked person. They are ensuring that this individual is not just removed, but utterly disgraced and remembered for their wrongdoing.

The Storm as Divine Agent

Is it people, or something else, driving the wicked away? This verse hints at a powerful, unseen force at play.

While the verse mentions 'men' clapping and hissing, the preceding verses and scholarly interpretations suggest that this is not merely human action, but a depiction of divine judgment carried out through natural forces or societal upheaval.

God's Instruments

Commentators note that the 'it' in verse 23 likely refers to a destructive force or 'storm' mentioned just before, personified as acting against the wicked. This storm, sent by God, is the ultimate agent of their downfall.

Judgment Embodied

The clapping and hissing become the expression of God's judgment. It's as if the storm itself, or the forces it unleashes, is personified to express the community's (and God's) rejection. The wicked are not just removed; they are driven out with contempt by forces they cannot escape, orchestrated by divine justice.

Understand the original words

Original language

hissesשָׁרַק

sharaq · Hebrew Verb

Hissing or whistling at someone in the ancient Near East was a gesture of mockery, scorn, and contempt, expressing the malicious delight of observers over the downfall and destruction of the wicked.

Historical context

Written: The exact dating is uncertain, but it's generally placed between the 6th and 4th centuries BC.
Author: The Book of Job is traditionally attributed to Job himself, though modern scholarship suggests it was likely compiled by an unknown Israelite author.
Location: The setting is the land of Uz, likely in Edom, while the book was written within the context of ancient Israel.
Genre: Wisdom literature, characterized by its use of poetic dialogue and profound theological questioning.

Key themes

01Public disgrace and scorn
02Rejection of the wicked
03Joy at divine justice

Cross-references

Lamentations 2:15

This passage directly links clapping hands with rejoicing over an enemy's downfall, mirroring the scorn and malicious joy described in Job 27:23.

Jeremiah 49:17

This verse uses 'hissing' as a clear symbol of astonishment and derision towards a fallen enemy, much like how the wicked are treated in Job.

Job 18:18

Bildad's earlier description of the wicked being driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world shares the theme of utter rejection and removal from their place, echoing the sentiment in Job 27:23.

Ezekiel 25:6

This passage describes clapping hands as an act of malicious pleasure and vengeance against an enemy, aligning with the scornful reception of the wicked described in Job.

Scholarly commentary

Job 27:23: "Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place."

Job 27:23 . Men — Who shall see and observe these things; shall clap their hands at him — In token of their joy, at the removal of such a public pest and tyrant; and by way of astonishment, as also in contempt and scorn; all which this action signifies in Scripture. And shall hiss him out of his place — In token of detestation and derision.
benson

Job 27:23: "Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place."

27:23 Clap - In token of their joy at the removal of such a publick pest, by way of astonishment: and in contempt and scorn, all which this gesture signifies in scripture use. His - In token of detestation and derision.
wesley

Frequently asked questions

What does Job 27:23 mean?

Explain the meaning of Job 27:23

What is the context of Job 27:23?

Study this verse in Sola

Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.

Open in Sola app Get the app

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "hisses" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did The Book of Job is traditionally attributed to Job himself, though modern scholarship suggests it was likely compiled by an unknown Israelite author. write Job 27:23?”
“How does public disgrace and scorn show up in Job 27:23?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Job 27:23 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.