Job 27:16
Job 27:16 in Multiple Translations
Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;
Though he may get silver together like dust, and make ready great stores of clothing;
Even though they pile up silver like dust, and clothes like heaps of clay,
Though he shoulde heape vp siluer as the dust, and prepare rayment as the clay,
If he heap up as dust silver, And as clay prepare clothing,
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;
Though he should heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay?
If he shall heap together silver as earth, and prepare raiment as clay,
Sometimes wicked people accumulate a huge amount [SIM] of silver and pile up clothes like [SIM] those clothes were a pile of clay,
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 27:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 27:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אִם
יִצְבֹּ֣ר
כֶּ/עָפָ֣ר
כָּ֑סֶף
וְ֝/כַ/חֹ֗מֶר
יָכִ֥ין
מַלְבּֽוּשׁ
אִם
ʼim
H518
if
Conj
יִצְבֹּ֣ר
tsâbar
H6651
to heap
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כֶּ/עָפָ֣ר
ʻâphâr
H6083
dust
Prep | N-ms
כָּ֑סֶף
keçeph
H3701
silver
N-ms
וְ֝/כַ/חֹ֗מֶר
chômer
H2563
clay
Conj | Prep | N-ms
יָכִ֥ין
kûwn
H3559
to establish
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
מַלְבּֽוּשׁ
malbûwsh
H4403
garment
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 27:16
אִם
ʼim
H518
"if"
Conj
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Definition: : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather
Usage: Occurs in 931 OT verses. KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet. See also: Genesis 4:7; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 27:27.
יִצְבֹּ֣ר
tsâbar
H6651
"to heap"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to gather or pile something up, like grain or silver, often used to describe accumulating wealth or resources. It appears in various contexts, including storing food or treasure.
Definition: 1) (Qal) to heap up, pile up 1a) of grain, dust, silver
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: gather (together), heap (up), lay up. See also: Genesis 41:35; Job 27:16; Psalms 39:7.
כֶּ/עָפָ֣ר
ʻâphâr
H6083
"dust"
Prep | N-ms
Aphar means dust or dry earth, and is also used to describe clay, earth, or mortar. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish 1a) dry or loose earth 1b) debris 1c) mortar 1d) ore
Usage: Occurs in 103 OT verses. KJV: ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish. See also: Genesis 2:7; Job 28:6; Psalms 7:6.
כָּ֑סֶף
keçeph
H3701
"silver"
N-ms
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Definition: : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents
Usage: Occurs in 343 OT verses. KJV: money, price, silver(-ling). See also: Genesis 13:2; Numbers 22:18; 2 Chronicles 1:17.
וְ֝/כַ/חֹ֗מֶר
chômer
H2563
"clay"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to a dry measure, about 65 gallons, or a heap of material like clay or mire. It is used in the Bible to describe measurements and substances.
Definition: 1) cement, mortar, clay 1a) mortar, cement 1b) clay 1c) mire
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: clay, heap, homer, mire, motion. See also: Genesis 11:3; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 5:10.
יָכִ֥ין
kûwn
H3559
"to establish"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Definition: : prepare/direct 1) to be firm, be stable, be established 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed 1a1a) to be firmly established 1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring 1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined 1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense) 1a3) to prepare, be ready 1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm 1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish 1b3) to direct toward (moral sense) 1b4) to arrange, order 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be established, be fastened 1c2) to be prepared, be ready 1d) (Polel) 1d1) to set up, establish 1d2) to constitute, make 1d3) to fix 1d4) to direct 1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared 1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
Usage: Occurs in 211 OT verses. KJV: certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed. See also: Genesis 41:32; Job 18:12; Psalms 5:10.
מַלְבּֽוּשׁ
malbûwsh
H4403
"garment"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to clothing or garments, like the attire people wear. It's used in the Bible to describe what people wore, including special vestments.
Definition: clothing, apparel, vestments, raiment, attire
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: apparel, raiment, vestment. See also: 1 Kings 10:5; Job 27:16; Isaiah 63:3.
Study Notes — Job 27:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 27:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 27:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 27:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 27:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 27:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 27:16
- Cambridge Bible on Job 27:16
- Barnes' Notes on Job 27:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 27:16
- Sermons on Job 27:16
Context — The Wicked Man’s Portion
14Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.
15His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.
16Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
17what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent. 18The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zechariah 9:3 | Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. |
| 2 | Matthew 6:19 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. |
| 3 | Habakkuk 2:6 | Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ |
| 4 | Job 22:24 | and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines, |
| 5 | James 5:2 | Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 10:27 | The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. |
Job 27:16 Summary
This verse is saying that even if someone has a lot of money and possessions, it's like collecting dust - it's worthless and doesn't last. The Bible is teaching us that trusting in wealth and material possessions for security is not the right way to live, as seen in Psalm 52:7, which says that the man who trusts in his wealth will fall. Instead, we should focus on what truly matters, like our relationship with God and using our resources to bless others. By trusting in God's provision and sovereignty, we can find true security and peace, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'heap up silver like dust' in Job 27:16?
This phrase means to accumulate wealth to the point where it becomes insignificant or worthless, much like dust that is abundant and worthless, as seen in other scriptures like Proverbs 27:24, which reminds us that wealth is fleeting.
Is the Bible teaching that having a lot of money is bad?
The Bible is not teaching that having money is inherently bad, but rather that trusting in wealth and material possessions for security is misguided, as stated in 1 Timothy 6:10 and Matthew 6:24, which warn against the dangers of loving money.
What is the significance of piling up a wardrobe like clay in this verse?
Piling up a wardrobe like clay suggests that even the finest and most extravagant possessions are fragile and impermanent, much like clay, which can be easily broken or damaged, as seen in Isaiah 64:8, where God is compared to a potter and we are the clay.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?
This verse is part of Job's speech, where he is discussing the fleeting nature of wealth and the inevitability of judgment, which is a central theme throughout the book of Job, as seen in Job 1:21 and Job 2:3, where Job's faith is tested and he acknowledges God's sovereignty.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I prioritize wealth and material possessions in my life, and how can I shift my focus to what truly matters?
- How can I trust in God's provision and sovereignty, even when I face financial uncertainty or insecurity?
- What are some ways that I can use my resources to bless others and bring glory to God, rather than accumulating wealth for myself?
- What does it mean to 'store up treasures in heaven' as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:20, and how can I apply this principle in my life?
Gill's Exposition on Job 27:16
Though he heap up silver as the dust,.... Which, as it denotes the great abundance of it collected together, so it expresses the bias and disposition of such a man's mind, that he cannot be content
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 27:16
I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. These words are contrary to Job's previous sentiments (notes, Job 21:22-33; Job 24:22-25).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 27:16
i.e. In great abundance.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 27:16
Job 27:16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;Ver. 16. Though he heap up silver as the dust] Silver and gold, what are they else but white and red earth, the guts and garbage of the earth, as one saith? Yet how greedy of them and gripple after them are many muck worms, heaping up riches, and not knowing who shall gather them, Psalms 39:6; laying up, as if their lives were riveted upon eternity; or were sure to leave it to their children, who yet shall never enjoy it. This is a great vanity, saith Solomon; and yet such dust heaps as these are to be found in every corner. And prepare raiment as the clay] Tantum vestium quantum est luti, saith Vatablus, that he have as great store of suits in his wardrobe as he hath dirt in his ditches.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 27:16
Verse 16. Though he heap up silver] Though he amass riches in the greatest abundance, he shall not enjoy them. Unsanctified wealth is a curse to its possessor. Money, of all earthly possessions, is the most dangerous, as it is the readiest agent to do good or evil. He that perverts it is doubly cursed, because it affords him the most immediate means of sinful gratification; and he can sin more in an hour through this, than he can in a day or week by any other kind of property. On the other hand, they who use it aright have it in their power to do the most prompt and immediate good. Almost every kind of want may be speedily relieved by it. Hence, he who uses it as he ought is doubly blessed; while he who abuses it is doubly cursed.
Cambridge Bible on Job 27:16
16. The “dust” and “clay” or mire are images that express extreme abundance, Zechariah 9:3, 1 Kings 10:27. Great wardrobes of costly garments are a usual element of Oriental wealth, Genesis 24:53, Joshua 7:21, 2 Kings 7:8, Matthew 6:19.
Barnes' Notes on Job 27:16
Though he heap up silver as the dust - That is, in great quantities - as plenty as dust; compare 1 Kings 10:27, “And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones.” And prepare raiment - Oriental
Whedon's Commentary on Job 27:16
16. Raiment as the clay — As with Elizabeth, queen of England, the wardrobe of the rich in the East represented often untold sums of wealth.
Sermons on Job 27:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Behaviors That Bind Us by Charles Stanley | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching children that their sense of security comes from a relationship with God, rather than material possessions. The sp |
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The Redeemer Is Coming to Zion by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of truly knowing Jesus and not just using His name. He warns against the deception of prosperity gospel and the focus on mate |
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Short Excerpt by William Booth | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of salvation and its ability to deliver and purify the soul. The sermon encourages the listener to find joy in the salvation offer |
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All This and Heaven Too by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of lost decisions in the Bible. He mentions Abraham and Moses as examples of individuals who made important decisions. The preach |
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"Embarrassment to a Holy God" by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon challenges the modern Church to reflect on the early Christians who, despite lacking grand resources or platforms, were able to turn the world upside down with their fa |
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Judgement Seat - Part 2 by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the significance of our lives and actions in the context of the Judgment Seat of Christ, where every believer will be held accountable for their servic |
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Holy Ground by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a vision of Christ rather than just having ideas. He criticizes the preaching in the country today, stating that it |