Job 20:16 — Word Study
WLCרֹאשׁ־ פְּתָנִ֥ים יִינָ֑ק תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֶפְעֶֽה׃
BSAHe will suckyânaq▸ [swallow, ingest] the poisonrôʼsh [gall, venom] of cobraspethen [venomous snakes, asps] the fangslâshôwn [tongue, deadly bite] of a viperʼephʻeh [asp, deadly snake] will kill himhârag▸ [slay, destroy]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| רֹאשׁ־ | [the] poison of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| פְּתָנִ֥ים | cobras | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יִינָ֑ק | he sucks | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ | it slays him | Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
| לְשׁ֣וֹן | [the] tongue of | Noun common, both singular construct |
| אֶפְעֶֽה׃ | a viper | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him. |
| KJV | He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him. |
| ASV | He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him. |
| YLT | Gall of asps he sucketh, Slay him doth the tongue of a viper. |
| WEB | He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him. |
| BBE | He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death. |
Where they part company is רֹאשׁ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, emphasizing the relationship between the action and its consequence.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָנַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 20:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on the Wickedgenerated
Job 20:16 presents a stark warning about the fate of the wicked, who may seem to prosper temporarily but ultimately face dire consequences. In this passage, Job describes how their greed leads them to consume harmful things, symbolized by the poison of cobras, and how their actions will lead to their destruction. This theme resonates throughout the book of Job, where the nature of suffering and divine justice is explored, as seen in the surrounding verses 15 and 17.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 3:13 | “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” |
| 2 | Isaiah 30:6 | This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them. |
| 3 | Matthew 3:7 | But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? |
| 4 | Acts 28:3–6 | Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רֹאשׁ, rosh-generated
The Hebrew word רֹאשׁ (rosh) refers to poison, specifically a harmful substance that can cause great damage. It is often associated with bitterness and toxicity, suggesting the dangerous nature of the things the wicked consume.
This word appears in contexts warning against harmful substances, highlighting the destructive consequences of greed and wrongdoing. The parsing as a masculine singular construct indicates its role in describing the poison that the wicked will ingest.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses poison for רֹאשׁ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יִינָ֑ק (he sucks) and תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗ (it slays) govern the structure of the verse, with the first verb indicating the action of sucking poison and the second verb describing the consequence of that action.
The sentence is structured to emphasize the cause and effect relationship between the wicked's actions and their ultimate fate, with the object הוּ (him) directly linked to the verb תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, פְּתָנִ֥ים is rendered as δρακόντων, indicating a broader interpretation of the term as 'dragons' or 'serpents', which suggests a more mythical or exaggerated portrayal of danger.
This choice reflects a widening of the original meaning, emphasizing the peril associated with the wicked's actions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 20:16 warns that the wicked will consume poison, symbolizing the harmful consequences of their actions. The verse illustrates how their greed leads to their destruction, as they face the deadly bite of a viper.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The poison symbolizes the harmful consequences of the wicked's actions and their greed.
Cobras and vipers represent danger and death, emphasizing the peril associated with the wicked's choices.
This verse highlights the ultimate fate of the wicked, contrasting their temporary gains with the justice that leads to their destruction.
It means that the consequences of their greed and wrongdoing will ultimately lead to their downfall.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen greed lead to harmful consequences in my life or in the lives of others?
- How can I be more aware of the dangers that come from pursuing wealth or success at any cost?
- What steps can I take to ensure that my actions align with integrity and righteousness?
- How does understanding the fate of the wicked influence my perspective on justice and morality?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators reference this verse to discuss the fate of the wicked and the dangers of their actions. Quotations from Ephrem the Syrian and Gregory the Dialogist illustrate their interpretations.
“They will not rejoice on the division of the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.” These words mean that those rivers were divided on Mount Calvary,Early Church Fathers on Job 20 →
Ver. 16. He shall suck the head of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. 19. The 'asp' is a small serpent, but the 'viper' hath more length of body. And asps produce eggs, and their young are hatched from the eggs.Early Church Fathers on Job 20 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 20:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe shall suck the poison of asps,.... Or "the head of asps" (u); for their poison lies in their heads, particularly in their "teeth" (w); or rather is a liquor in the gums, yellow like oil (x);
Read John Gill on Job 20 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. Shall suck - it shall turn out that he has sucked the poison, etc.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 20 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat which he hath greedily and industriously sucked in as pleasant and wholesome nourishment, shall in the issue be as ungrateful and destructive to him as the poison or head (for the Hebrew word signifies both, and the poison lies in the head) of asps would be to one that sucketh it. The viper’ s tongue, together with its teeth, in which the poison lurks, which it conveys by biting a man.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 20 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’ s tongue shall slay him.Ver. 16. He shall suck the poison of asps] That lieth in his head, whence also it hath its name in the original. Caput aspidis suger, saith the Vulgate. It is said of the toad that he hath in his head a stone of great virtue, called Bufonites. But the asp hath nothing in his head but strong poison. This the rich wretch shall suck, like as he was wont to suck the blood of the poor oppressed, to eat their flesh, Psalms 14:4, and to eviscerate them. The viper’ s tongue shall slay him] Perinde cedet ei maleficium, saith Junius; his wickedness shall prove his bane, unless he presently take the antidote of repentance…
Read John Trapp on Job 20 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. He shall suck the poison of asps] That delicious morsel, that secret, easily-besetting sin, so palatable, and so pleasurable, shall act on the life of his soul, as the poison of asps would do on the life of his body. The poison is called the gall of asps, it being anciently supposed that the poison of serpents consists in their gall, which is thought to be copiously exuded when those animals are enraged; as it has been often seen that their bite is not poisonous when they are not angry. Pliny, in speaking of the various parts of animals, Hist. Nat. lib. xi., c. 37, states, from this circumstance, that in the gall, the poison of serpents consists; ne quis miretur id (fel) venenum…
Read AdamClarke on Job 20 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. A slight change of the figure. The meaning is: that which he sucks shall prove the poison of asps.
Read Cambridge on Job 20 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe shall suck the poison of asps - That which he swallowed as pleasant nutriment, shall become the most deadly poison; or the consequence shall be as if he had sucked the poison of asps.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 20 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. The viper — Eph’ha. Tristram (Nat. Hist.) identifies it with the sand-viper, a species of small size, about a foot long, varying in colour and common in Arabia and Syria.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 20 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him.
Tyndale line
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him.
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
He shall sucke the gall of Aspes, and the vipers tongue shall slay him.
Strictly literal
He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
Gall of asps he sucketh, Slay him doth the tongue of a viper.
He sucks [the] gall of cobras, the tongue of a viper slays him.
The poison of asps will he have to suck; the viper's tongue will slay him.
He will suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue will kill him.
From the Latin
He shall suck the head of asps, and the viper’s tongue shall kill him.
Simplified
They suck in snake venom; the bite of the viper will kill them.
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show agreement in the essential elements of the verse, with five of the six words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the core message remains consistent.
רֹאשׁ־ פְּתָנִ֥ים יִינָ֑ק תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֶפְעֶֽה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 20:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) refers to a bitter and poisonous herb, often associated with venom or poison. The entries suggest it may specifically denote a plant like the poppy, and it is used figuratively to indicate bitterness or toxicity. The term appears in contexts related to poison, gall, and hemlock.
רֹאשׁ and רוֹשׁ n.m. a bitter and poisonous herb, then venom, alw. fig.
base
H7219 רֹאשׁ and רוֹשׁ a bitter and poisonous herb, then venom, alw. fig.
7219 ro'sh roshe
or rowsh (Deut. 32:32) {roshe}; apparently the same as 7218;
a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous
head); generally poison (even of serpents):--gall, hemlock,
poison, venom.
see HEBREW for 07218
רֹאשׁ (rosh) — poison.
gall, venom, bitter, poisonous
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פֶּ֫תֶן (pethen) refers to a venomous serpent, likely a cobra or similar snake, characterized by its twisting movements. The term appears in contexts that suggest danger due to its venomous nature. The entries indicate a consensus on its meaning as a snake, but do not provide specific verse references.
פֶּ֫תֶן n.m. a venomous serpent, perh. cobra
base
H6620 פֶּ֫תֶן a venomous serpent, perh. cobra
6620 pethen peh'-then
from an unused root meaning to twist; an asp (from its
contortions):--adder.
פֶּ֫תֶן (pe.ten) — cobra.
1) a snake, venomous serpent
1a) perhaps the cobra, adder, or viper
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
יָנַק (yanaq) means to suck or suckle, particularly in the context of an infant nursing at its mother's breast. It can also refer to the act of giving milk or nursing, with related forms indicating a nursing mother or suckling child. The entries consistently emphasize the nurturing aspect of this word.
[יָנַק] vb. suck
Qal suck, of infant at mother's breast
Hiph. give suck to, nurse
base
H3243 יָנַק suck .suck, of infant at mother's breast
. give suck to, nurse
3243 yanaq yaw-nak'
a primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk:--milch,
nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling).
יָנַק (ya.naq) — to suckle.
1) to suckle, nurse, suck
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to suck
1a2) suckling, babe (subst)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to give suck to, nurse
1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.
הָרַג vb. kill, slay
Qal
kill, slay, implying ruthless violence
hence of wholesale slaughter after battle
of God’s slaying in judgment
rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)
of killing beasts
of killing by beasts
quite general
destroy, ruin
Niph.
shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?
pass. of Qal 1 b
Pu. be slain
base
H2026 הָרַג kill, slay
2026 harag haw-rag'
a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out
of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),
slay(-er), X surely.
הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.
1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kill, slay
1a2) to destroy, ruin
1b) (Niphal) to be killed
1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVqi3fs/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue
tongue of men
= language
tongue of animals
tongue of fire
= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
base
H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men
. = language
. tongue of animals
. tongue of fire
. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
3956 lashown law-shone'
or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah
{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used
literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),
and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of
water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,
tongue, wedge.
see HEBREW for 03960
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.
: tongue/words
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.
: language
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.
: bar/projection/bay
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
N-cs — Noun common · both singular constructHNcbsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֶפְעֶה (eph'eh) refers to a type of viper or venomous serpent. It is derived from a root meaning to hiss, indicating its nature. The entries consistently identify it as a viper without significant variation in meaning.
אֶפְעֶה n.[m.] a kind of viper
base
H660 אֶפְעֶה a kind of viper
660 'eph`eh ef-eh'
from 659 (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous
serpent:--viper.
see HEBREW for 0659
אֶפְעֶה (eph.eh) — viper.
a viper, snake
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Viper
In Job 20:16, Isa. 30:6; 59:5, the Heb. word eph’eh is thus rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of ‘el ephah. Tristram has identified it with the sand viper, a species of small size common in sandy regions, and frequently found under stones by the shores of the Dead Sea. It is rapid in its movements, and highly poisonous. In the New Testament echidne is used (Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33) for any poisonous snake. The viper mentioned in Acts 28:3 was probably the vipera aspis, or the Mediterranean viper. (See ADDER.)
[SERPENT]
A genus of serpents noted for the virulence of their poison, which is said to be one of the most dangerous in the animal kingdom. Hence the viper is a symbol of whatever is most evil and destructive, Job 20:16 Isa 30:6. As such the term was applied by Christ and by John to certain classes of the Jews, Mt 3:7 12:34 23:33 Lu 3:7. Paul’s escape from the bite of a viper in Malta led the people to believe that he was a god in human form, Ac 28:3. A species of viper in Northern Africa, though little more than a foot long is called the most formidable serpent there; and Hasselquist speaks of a viper in Cyprus, whose bits produces…