Job 24:20

The wombe shall forget him, the worme shall feed sweetly on him, hee shall be no more remembred, and wickednes shalbe broken as a tree. Job 24:20 (KJV)

The book of Job is a poetic exploration of the question of human suffering and the nature of God’s justice. Job, a righteous and blameless man, experiences extreme suffering, losing his wealth, family, and health. Throughout the book, Job wrestles with the questions of why he is suffering and how to reconcile his experience with his understanding of God.

Meaning of Job 24:20: In this verse, Job vividly describes the fate of the wicked. He asserts that the womb that once gave them life will forget them, and that the worm will become their portion as they return to the earth. Furthermore, he uses the imagery of worms feeding sweetly on him, emphasizing the decay and insignificance of their existence.

Reflection on Job 24:20: Job’s words in this verse express a sense of longing for justice. He observes that the wicked often seem to escape punishment and go unnoticed in their wrongdoing, while the innocent suffer. Job questions the prevailing belief that the wicked always receive their due and suggests that wickedness shall be broken as a tree. By portraying the ultimate oblivion of the wicked—being forgotten and reduced to dust—Job questions the assumption that the wicked are always visibly punished in this life.

Theological significance: Job’s perspective challenges the traditional understanding of divine justice held by his friends. He acknowledges the reality of the wicked seemingly prospering while the righteous suffer. Job’s honest wrestling with the complexities of suffering highlights the limitations of human understanding and the need for a deeper exploration of God’s ways.

“The womb that bringeth up him shall forget him; the worm shall be his portion; and he shall go down into the dust.”