Job 21:18

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?

American Standard Version (1901)

That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Bible in Basic English

How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?

Free Bible Version

Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?

King James (Authorized) Version

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

Translation for Translators

He does not blow them away like wind blows away straw; they are never carried off by a whirlwind.

Unlocked Literal Bible

How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?

Noah Webster Bible

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

World English Bible

How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?

Young's Literal Translation

They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

Context

Job: God Will Punish the Wicked

¹⁷How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction? ¹⁸Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? ¹⁹It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

Summary

In Job 21:18, Job reflects on the reality that even though the wicked may experience prosperity and success in this life, ultimately they will face God's judgment. This verse serves as a reminder that outward appearances of wealth and happiness do not indicate a person's true standing before God. Job's contemplation points to the importance of looking beyond temporary circumstances and focusing on the eternal consequences of one's choices. It underscores the biblical principle that God will ultimately bring justice and righteousness to all, regardless of their earthly achievements.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

They are as stubble before the wind - "His fan is in his hand; he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, but shall be like the chaff which the wind driveth away." Were not this a common thought, I should have supposed that the author of this book borrowed it from Psa 1:4. The original signifies that they shall be carried away by a furious storm; and borne off as booty is by the swift-riding robbers of the desert, who make a sudden irruption, and then set off at full speed with their prey.

John Gill Bible Commentary

God layeth up his iniquity for his children,.... This is a prevention of an objection which Job foresaw his friends would make, and therefore takes it up and answers to it; you will say, that, be it so, that the wicked are for the most part prosperous, and their prosperity continues; God does not punish them now for their sins in their own persons, yet he will punish them in their children, for whom he reserves the punishment of their iniquity: this way go many of the Jewish commentators (y), in which they are followed by many Christian interpreters (z); and, as it seems, very rightly; now this Job grants, that so it is, God takes notice of the iniquities of men, and lays them up in his mind, and puts them down in the book of his remembrance; he reserves the punishment of their iniquities for their children, iniquity being often put for the punishment of it; this is laid up among his stores of vengeance, and is treasured up against the day of wrath; and when they have filled up the measure of their father's sins by their own transgressions, the deserved punishment shall be inflicted, according to Exo 20:5; but this will not clear the case, nor support the notions and sentiments of Job's friends, who had all along given out, that wicked men are punished themselves as well as their children; and that, if they are at any time in prosperous circumstances, it is only for a little while; and therefore agreeably to such notions God should take other methods with them, not punish their children only, but themselves, as Job argues in answer to the objection in Job 21:18, he rewarded him, and he shall know it; or "he should reward him, and he should know it" (a); and so the word "should" is to be put instead of "shall" in Job 21:20, which directs to the true sense of these clauses: and the meaning of Job is, that according to the sentiments of his friends, God should reward a wicked man while he lives in his own body, and not in his posterity only; he should render to them a just recompence of reward of their evil works, the demerit of their sins; and in such a manner, that they should know it, be sensible of it, and feel it themselves, and perceive the evil of sin in the punishment of it; see Hos 9:7. (y) Nachmanides, Jarchi, Ben Gersom, Bar Tzemach. (z) Beza, Cocceius, Schultens. (a) "redderet illi, et (hoc) sciret", Beza; "retribueret ipsi potius, et sentiret", Cocceius.