Job 27:20
Job 27:20 in Multiple Translations
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night.
Fears overtake him like rushing waters; in the night the storm-wind takes him away.
Waves of panic flood over them; in the night a whirlwind snatches them away.
Terrours shall take him as waters, and a tempest shall cary him away by night.
Overtake him as waters do terrors, By night stolen him away hath a whirlwind.
Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night.
Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
Poverty like water shall take hold on him, a tempest shall oppress him in the night.
“Things that terrify them [PRS] strike them like a flood [SIM]; during the night a whirlwind carries them away.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 27:20
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 27:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣/הוּ
כַ֭/מַּיִם
בַּלָּה֑וֹת
לַ֝֗יְלָה
גְּנָבַ֥תּ/וּ
סוּפָֽה
תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣/הוּ
nâsag
H5381
to overtake
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff
כַ֭/מַּיִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
Prep | N-mp
בַּלָּה֑וֹת
ballâhâh
H1091
terror
N-fp
לַ֝֗יְלָה
layil
H3915
night
N-ms
גְּנָבַ֥תּ/וּ
gânab
H1589
to steal
V-Qal-Perf-3fs | Suff
סוּפָֽה
çûwphâh
H5492
whirlwind
N-fs
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 27:20
תַּשִּׂיגֵ֣/הוּ
nâsag
H5381
"to overtake"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff
To overtake means to reach or catch up to something, like pursuing an enemy or attaining a goal. This verb is used in the Bible to describe physical and spiritual pursuits. It can also mean to be able to secure or have enough.
Definition: 1) to reach, overtake, take hold upon 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to overtake 1a2) to reach, attain to, cause to reach 1a3) to be able to secure, reach, have enough
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, [idiom] surely, (over-) take (hold of, on, upon). See also: Genesis 31:25; 1 Samuel 14:26; Psalms 7:6.
כַ֭/מַּיִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
Prep | N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
בַּלָּה֑וֹת
ballâhâh
H1091
"terror"
N-fp
This word means terror or destruction, causing alarm and trouble. It is used to describe dreadful events in the Bible, such as wars and disasters.
Definition: terror, destruction, calamity, dreadful event
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: terror, trouble. See also: Job 18:11; Psalms 73:19; Isaiah 17:14.
לַ֝֗יְלָה
layil
H3915
"night"
N-ms
Night refers to the time of darkness, opposed to day, and can also symbolize adversity or hardship. It is a period of rest, but also of potential danger or uncertainty.
Definition: 1) night 1a) night (as opposed to day) 1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 223 OT verses. KJV: (mid-)night (season). See also: Genesis 1:5; 2 Samuel 17:16; Psalms 1:2.
גְּנָבַ֥תּ/וּ
gânab
H1589
"to steal"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs | Suff
To steal means to take something secretly, whether physically or by deceiving someone. This can happen in various ways, as described in different Bible stories.
Definition: 1) to steal, steal away, carry away 1a) (Qal) to steal 1b) (Niphal) to be stolen 1c) (Piel) to steal away 1d)(Pual) to be stolen away, be brought by stealth 1e) (Hithpael) to go by stealth, steal away
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: carry away, [idiom] indeed, secretly bring, steal (away), get by stealth. See also: Genesis 30:33; Joshua 7:11; Proverbs 6:30.
סוּפָֽה
çûwphâh
H5492
"whirlwind"
N-fs
Suphah refers to a hurricane or storm, and is also the name of a place east of the Jordan, translated as Red Sea in the KJV. It is derived from the idea of overflowing. In the Bible, it is used to describe powerful natural events, such as storms and whirlwinds.
Definition: storm-wind
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: Red Sea, storm, tempest, whirlwind, Red sea. See also: Numbers 21:14; Isaiah 17:13; Psalms 83:16.
Study Notes — Job 27:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 27:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 27:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 27:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 27:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 27:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 27:20
- Cambridge Bible on Job 27:20
- Barnes' Notes on Job 27:20
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 27:20
- Sermons on Job 27:20
Context — The Wicked Man’s Portion
18The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.
19He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.
20Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
21The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place. 22It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:21 | Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him. |
| 2 | Job 18:11 | Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step. |
| 3 | Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? |
| 4 | Job 20:23 | When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats. |
| 5 | Psalms 42:7 | Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me. |
| 6 | Job 22:16 | They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood. |
| 7 | Daniel 5:30 | That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, |
| 8 | Jonah 2:3 | For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. |
| 9 | Psalms 18:4 | The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. |
| 10 | 2 Kings 19:35 | And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! |
Job 27:20 Summary
This verse describes how the wicked will be overtaken by terrors, like a flood and a tempest, which are symbols of God's judgment. This is a warning to all people to live righteous lives, as seen in Psalm 1:6, where the ways of the righteous and the wicked are contrasted. Just like a storm can sweep away a house, God's judgment can sweep away the wicked, leaving them with nothing. As it says in Matthew 7:27, the house built on the rock of obedience to God's word will stand, but the house built on the sand of wickedness will fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nature of the terrors that overtake the wicked in Job 27:20?
The terrors that overtake the wicked are a result of God's judgment, as seen in Psalm 73:18, where the wicked are described as slipping and falling to their destruction, and in Proverbs 10:24, which states that the fear of the wicked will come upon them.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the book of Job?
This verse highlights the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, a central theme in the book of Job, as seen in Job 28:28, where wisdom is described as fearing the Lord, and in Job 31:3, which states that disaster is the wickedness of the wicked.
What is the significance of the 'flood' and 'tempest' in this verse?
The 'flood' and 'tempest' are symbolic of the overwhelming and destructive nature of God's judgment, as seen in Genesis 6:17, where a flood is used to destroy the wicked, and in Isaiah 28:2, which describes a tempest as a instrument of God's judgment.
How can believers apply this verse to their own lives?
Believers can apply this verse by recognizing the importance of living a righteous life, as seen in Matthew 25:46, where the wicked are punished, and in 1 John 3:10, which states that the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished by their actions.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that the wicked may be overtaken by terrors, and how can I ensure that I am not among them?
- How can I cultivate a sense of reverence and fear for the Lord, as described in Proverbs 1:7, in order to avoid the terrors that come upon the wicked?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be vulnerable to the 'flood' and 'tempest' of God's judgment, and how can I take steps to repent and seek forgiveness?
- How can I use this verse to encourage and warn others about the dangers of wickedness, as seen in Ezekiel 3:18, where the prophet is called to warn the wicked of their impending doom?
Gill's Exposition on Job 27:20
Terrors take hold on him as waters,.... The terrors of death, and of an awful judgment that is to come after it; finding himself dying, death is the king of terrors to him, dreading not only the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 27:20
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 27:20
Terrors take hold on him, from the sense of his approaching death or judgment. As waters; either, 1. In abundance, one terror after another. Or, 2. Violently and irresistibly, as a river breaking its banks, or a deluge of waters bears down and overwhelms all that is before it. A tempest stealeth him away in the night; God’ s wrath and judgment cometh upon him forcibly like a tempest, and withal secretly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 27:20
Job 27:20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.Ver. 20. Terrors take hold on him as waters] Abundantly, suddenly, irresistibly; he is even swallowed up by them and overwhelmed; as he that is plunged into a deep pit full of water, or that hath the proud surges going over his soul, Psalms 124:5. The misery of it is, that these waters are fiery, and hell is a lake; but a burning lake, and such also as hath eternity to the bottom. A tempest stealeth him away in the night] i.e. Furtim, et repente et horribiliter. Night is itself full of terror; but much more when a tempest is up, and thieves are abroad, &c. Oh! it must needs be a terrible time indeed, when death shall come with a writ of Habeas corpus, and the devil with another of Habeas animam upon a man at once. Petrus Suetorius speaketh of one that preaching a funeral sermon on a certain canon at Paris, and giving him large commendations, heard at the same time a voice in the church, Mortuus sum, iudicatus sum, damnatus sum, I am dead, judged, and damned (Pet. Suetor. de Vit. Carth).
Oh! let us but think with ourselves, though it pass all thought, what a screech the poor soul giveth when hurled into hell; there to suffer such tortures and torments as it shall never be able to avoid or abide!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 27:20
Verse 20. Terrors take hold on him as waters] They come upon him as an irresistible flood; and he is overwhelmed as by a tempest in the night, when darkness partly hides his danger, and deprives him of discerning the way to escape.
Cambridge Bible on Job 27:20
20. The figure of overwhelming waters is a natural one in the East and common in Scripture, Psalms 18:16, Nahum 1:8. Comp. the language of Eliphaz to Job, ch. Job 22:11.
Barnes' Notes on Job 27:20
Terrors-take hold on him as waters - That is, as suddenly and violently as angry floods; compare the notes at Job 18:14. A tempest stealeth him away - He is suddenly cut off by the wrath of God.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 27:20
20. As waters — Suddenly, violently, continuously. “One terror after another, without intermission, as waters mix together in a flood.” — Rabbi Levi.
Sermons on Job 27:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul Is to Be Sought by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches about the importance of undertaking great endeavors for our own salvation, using Noah's obedience in building the ark as an example. He emphasizes the tho |
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Be Filled With the Holy Spirit - Part 1 by Jackie Pullinger | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experiences of preaching the gospel in a challenging environment. He talks about how he spent time with gangsters and criminals, sharing the |
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Life Changing Message!!@! - His and His Alone by K.P. Yohannan | This sermon emphasizes the radical commitment to following Jesus, illustrated through personal stories of persecution, sacrifice, and unwavering faith. It highlights the importance |
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Trusting God Is Not an Option by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of surrendering every aspect of one's life to God. He encourages believers to wait on God with a diligent attitude, ready to |
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An Invitation to Follow Him by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the profound invitation from Jesus to follow Him, which transcends mere evangelism and calls for a life of obedience and surrender to God's will. He reflec |
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Knowing Christ Pt 4 by Philip Powell | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of knowing God and having eternal life. He emphasizes that the purpose of the book of 1 John is not to give us eternal life, b |
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Oh, the Depth by T. Austin Sparks by T. Austin-Sparks | This sermon delves into the concept of depth in spiritual life, contrasting the tragedy of shallowness with the profound depth of God's wisdom, knowledge, and love. It emphasizes t |