What does Job 20:8 mean?
"He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night." - Job 20:8
Job 20:8 in the King James Version of the Bible states, "He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night." This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Job, which tells the story of a man named Job who faced immense suffering and loss, yet remained faithful to God.
The speaker in this verse is Zophar, one of Job's friends who comes to offer him advice and insight. Zophar is attempting to explain the fate of the wicked by using the analogy of a dream. He is saying that the wicked will ultimately perish and be forgotten, just as a dream quickly fades from memory upon waking.
The themes present in this verse are mortality, justice, and the fleeting nature of life. Zophar is trying to convey to Job that those who do evil will not prosper in the end, and that their lives will be like a fleeting dream that vanishes without a trace. This speaks to the larger theme of justice and retribution in the book of Job, as the characters grapple with the concept of why the innocent suffer and the wicked seemingly prosper.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its meaning. Job's friends have been attempting to console him and help him make sense of his suffering, and yet their perspective is limited. Zophar, in particular, is firm in his belief that the wicked will ultimately face judgement and punishment for their actions. His words in this verse reflect his conviction that the wicked will not be able to escape their fate, just as a dream cannot be held onto once it is over.
Symbolism is also present in this verse, as the dream serves as a metaphor for the transience of life and the impermanence of the wicked's actions. Dreams are often used in literature and religious texts to represent the ephemeral nature of human existence, and this verse is no exception. By likening the wicked to a fleeting dream, Zophar is emphasizing that their power and influence are ultimately insubstantial and will not endure.
In conclusion, Job 20:8 in the King James Version of the Bible is a poignant and evocative verse that speaks to the themes of mortality, justice, and the transient nature of life. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Zophar conveys his belief that the wicked will ultimately face a fate similar to that of a fleeting dream - disappearing without a trace. This verse adds depth and complexity to the ongoing dialogue in the book of Job about suffering, justice, and the mysterious ways of God.
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Job 20:8 Artwork
Job 20:8 - "He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night."
"He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night." - Job 20:8
Job 8:20 - "Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:"
"Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:" - Job 8:20
Job 1:20
Job 1:20
Job 3:20-21 - "Job 3:20-21: Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure?"
Job 1:20 - "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,"
Job 20:5 - "That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?"
Job 20:1 - "Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,"
Job 20:20 - "Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired."
Job 1:8
Job 28:20 - "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?"
Job 36:20 - "Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place."
Job 8:8 - "For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:"
Job 20:4 - "Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,"
Job 20:17 - "He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter."
Job 8:1 - "Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,"
Job 4:20 - "They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it."
Job 3:20 - "Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;"
Job 29:20 - "My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand."
Job 22:20 - "Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth."
Job 33:20 - "So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat."
Job 6:20 - "They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed."
Job 20:13 - "Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:"
Job 12:20 - "He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged."
Job 37:8 - "Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places."
Job 36:8 - "And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;"
Job 32:20 - "I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer."
Job 27:20 - "Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night."