Job 20:23

When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Zophar speaks to Job in his second discourse, describing the sudden collapse of the arrogant man while he is still experiencing prosperity.

The words — חֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ (cha.Ron 'a.P/o) literally means "the burning of his anger," and וְ/יַמְטֵ֥ר (ve./yam.Ter) translates as "and he will send rain."

The thread — The pattern of judgment striking during consumption runs through Numbers 11:33 and Psalms 78:30, while the "raining down" motif parallels the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that divine judgment operates independently of human preparation, terminating earthly security precisely at its peak.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יְהִ֤י׀ye.Himay he be לְמַלֵּ֬אle./ma.Le'[about] to/ fill בִטְנ֗וֹvit.N/obelly/ his יְֽשַׁלַּח־ye.sha.lach-he will sendבּ֭וֹb/oon/ himחֲר֣וֹןcha.Ron[the] burning of אַפּ֑וֹ'a.P/oanger/ his וְיַמְטֵ֥רve./yam.Terand/ he will send rain עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ'a.Lei./movon/ him בִּלְחוּמֽוֹ׃bi/l.chu.M/oin/ bowel[s]/ his

King James Version

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

Cross-references

Psalms 78:30 Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths,
Numbers 11:33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague.
Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.
Exodus 9:23 So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.
Psalms 11:6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
Isaiah 21:4 My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror.
Malachi 2:2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
Luke 12:17 So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’