By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights God's power not through a violent tempest, but through a subtle "breath" or "blast." It emphasizes that even the slightest divine displeasure, like a gentle wind that can still dry up fields, is enough to utterly consume those who oppose Him.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Eliphaz is speaking to Job, arguing that suffering is always a consequence of sin. He's using imagery of natural destruction to illustrate God's power to bring down the wicked and powerful, suggesting that even fierce creatures are easily crushed by divine wrath. This verse follows Eliphaz's assertion that Job's troubles are a direct result of his own iniquity, and precedes his advice for Job to seek God.
We often think of God's breath as life-giving, like the very air we breathe. But in Job, this 'breath' carries a different, awe-inspiring weight.
In Job 4:9, Eliphaz uses imagery of God's 'breath' and 'blast' to describe how the wicked are destroyed. While God's breath can be seen as the source of life (Genesis 2:7), here it's depicted as a powerful force of judgment.
A Gentle Whisper, A Mighty Roar
This imagery highlights that God's power is absolute. His 'breath,' whether a whisper or a blast, is not to be trifled with, especially when directed by His anger.
Eliphaz links God's judgment to His anger, comparing it to a hot, destructive wind. What does this vivid picture tell us about divine justice?
The verse speaks of God's judgment being carried out through His 'anger.' This isn't human temper but a righteous, holy indignation against sin and injustice.
The Blast of Wrath
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Eliphaz uses this powerful metaphor to emphasize the terrible swiftness and totality of God's judgment on the wicked, likening it to a natural disaster unleashed by divine power.
Eliphaz paints a stark picture of the wicked's end. What does this verse reveal about their ultimate destiny when they face God's judgment?
Job 4:9 isn't just describing a bad day for the wicked; it's proclaiming their ultimate, inevitable destruction. Eliphaz uses strong verbs to show the finality of God's action.
From Projects to Perished
This verse serves as a solemn warning: those who oppose God and His ways will ultimately perish, not by chance or weak force, but by the direct, irresistible power of God's judgment.
Understand the original words
aph · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the manifestation of God’s judicial displeasure and righteous reaction against sin. It is not an uncontrolled outburst but a settled, holy opposition to everything that contradicts His nature.
This passage uses similar imagery of God's power manifesting as wind or breath that causes destruction, directly paralleling the idea of God's 'blast' and 'breath' consuming those who oppose Him.
Isaiah 11:4This verse speaks of God striking the earth with the 'rod of his mouth' and slaying the wicked with the 'breath of his lips,' echoing the concept of divine speech or breath carrying lethal power against wrongdoing.
Ezekiel 32:2This prophecy compares Pharaoh to a 'dragon in the seas' who is struck down by God's anger, illustrating how powerful rulers ('lions' in Job's context) are ultimately destroyed by God's might.
Jeremiah 15:14This verse describes God's enemies being led into exile 'by a fire that is kindled in my anger,' connecting divine anger to a consuming force that brings about destruction, much like the 'blast' in Job.
bensonJob 4:9: "By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."
Job 4:9-10 . By the blast of God they perish, &c. — These two verses are thus interpreted by Heath: By the breath of God they perish; for, at the blast of his anger, the roarings of the lion, and the growling of the black lion, are hushed, and the teeth of the young lions are broken; that is, by the mere breath of God’s displeasure, or by a secret, and often undiscerned, but mighty and irresistible…
pulpitJob 4:9: "By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."
Verse 9. - By the blast of God they perish; rather, by the breath of God, as in Job 37:10. The word used (גִשְׁמָה) means always, as Professor Lee observes," a slight or gentle breathing." The slightest breath of God's displeasure is enough to destroy those against whom it is directed. And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. Here "blast" would be better than "breath," for רוח is a stron…
This verse highlights God's power not through a violent tempest, but through a subtle "breath" or "blast." It emphasizes that even the slightest divine displeasure, like a gentle wind that can still dry up fields, is enough to utterly consume those who oppose Him.
Eliphaz is speaking to Job, arguing that suffering is always a consequence of sin. He's using imagery of natural destruction to illustrate God's power to bring down the wicked and powerful, suggesting that even fierce creatures are easily crushed by divine wrath. This verse follows Eliphaz's assertion that Job's troubles are a direct result of his own iniquity, and precedes his advice for Job to seek God.
Eliphaz is speaking to Job, arguing that suffering is always a consequence of sin. He's using imagery of natural destruction to illustrate God's power to bring down the wicked and powerful, suggesting that even fierce creatures are easily crushed by divine wrath. This verse follows Eliphaz's assertion that Job's troubles are a direct result of his own iniquity, and precedes his advice for Job to seek God.
"By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed." — This verse highlights God's power not through a violent tempest, but through a subtle "breath" or "blast." It emphasizes that even the slightest divine displeasure, like a gentle wind that can still…
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Last reviewed October 2026