Job 11:20
New International Version
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.”

New Living Translation
But the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death.”

English Standard Version
But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”

Berean Standard Bible
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

King James Bible
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

New King James Version
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope— loss of life!”

New American Standard Bible
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.”

NASB 1995
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.”

NASB 1977
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the eyes of the wicked will come to an end, And escape will perish from them; And their hope is the expiring of their soul.”

Amplified Bible
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they will not escape [the justice of God]; And their hope is to breathe their last [and die].”

Christian Standard Bible
But the sight of the wicked will fail. Their way of escape will be cut off, and their only hope is their last breath.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the sight of the wicked will fail. Their way of escape will be cut off, and their only hope is their last breath.

American Standard Version
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

Contemporary English Version
But those who are evil will go blind and lose their way. Their only escape is death!

English Revised Version
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee, and their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the wicked will lose their eyesight. Their escape route will be closed. Their only hope is to take their last breath."

Good News Translation
But the wicked will look around in despair and find that there is no way to escape. Their one hope is that death will come.

International Standard Version
But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath."

Majority Standard Bible
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.?

NET Bible
But the eyes of the wicked fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last."

New Heart English Bible
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

Webster's Bible Translation
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the expiration of the breath.

World English Bible
But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, "" And refuge has perished from them, "" And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!”

Young's Literal Translation
And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope is a breathing out of soul!

Smith's Literal Translation
And the eyes of the unjust shall be consumed, and flight shall perish from them, and their hope a breathing out of the soul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.

New American Bible
but the wicked, looking on, shall be consumed with envy. Escape shall be cut off from them, their only hope their last breath.

New Revised Standard Version
But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and their strength shall vanish away together with the hope of their souls.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the eyes of the wicked will be darkened and their strength will be destroyed from them, and the hope of their souls
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee, And their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Zophar Rebukes Job
19You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

Cross References
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 112:10
The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

Isaiah 8:22
Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Matthew 8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Luke 13:28
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

Proverbs 24:20
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Isaiah 59:10
Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.

2 Thessalonians 1:9
They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

Matthew 22:13
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Isaiah 57:21
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Psalm 37:20
But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Isaiah 13:8
Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.


Treasury of Scripture

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

the eyes

Job 31:16
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Leviticus 26:16
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

Deuteronomy 28:65
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

they shall not escape.

Amos 2:14
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

Amos 5:19,20
As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him…

Amos 9:1-3
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered…

their hope

Job 8:13,14
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: …

Job 18:14
His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

Job 27:8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

the giving up of the ghost.

Jump to Previous
Breath Breathe Breathing Consumed Drooping Dying Elude Escape Evil-Doers Eyes Fail Flee Flight Gasp Ghost Hope Last Refuge Soul Spirit Vanish Wasting Way Wicked
Jump to Next
Breath Breathe Breathing Consumed Drooping Dying Elude Escape Evil-Doers Eyes Fail Flee Flight Gasp Ghost Hope Last Refuge Soul Spirit Vanish Wasting Way Wicked
Job 11
1. Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5. God's wisdom is unsearchable
13. The assured blessing of repentance














But the eyes of the wicked will fail
This phrase suggests a loss of vision or understanding, symbolizing the ultimate downfall of those who oppose God. In biblical literature, "eyes" often represent insight or perception (e.g., Psalm 119:18). The wicked, those who live in opposition to God's laws, are depicted as losing their ability to see or comprehend the truth. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that those who reject God are spiritually blind (John 9:39-41).

and escape will elude them
The concept of escape here implies a desire to avoid judgment or consequences. In the context of Job, Zophar is suggesting that the wicked cannot avoid divine justice. This echoes the biblical principle that no one can escape God's judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The imagery of eluding escape is reminiscent of the futility of trying to flee from God's presence, as seen in Jonah's attempt to escape God's call (Jonah 1:3).

they will hope for their last breath.
This phrase indicates a sense of desperation and hopelessness. The wicked, facing inevitable judgment, cling to the hope of mere survival. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, breath is often synonymous with life itself (Genesis 2:7). The wicked's hope for their last breath underscores their ultimate despair and the futility of their situation. This can be contrasted with the hope of the righteous, who trust in God's deliverance and eternal life (Psalm 16:9-11).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. Zophar the Naamathite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. Zophar is the speaker in Job 11, and he often emphasizes God's justice and the need for repentance.

3. The Wicked
In this context, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's ways, often characterized by their lack of faith and moral corruption.

4. The Eyes
Symbolically representing perception and understanding, the eyes of the wicked failing indicates a lack of insight or foresight.

5. Hope
Here, hope is depicted as futile for the wicked, culminating in their ultimate demise.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Wickedness
The passage highlights the inevitable downfall of those who live in opposition to God. It serves as a warning that a life apart from God leads to despair and hopelessness.

The Illusion of False Hope
The wicked may place their hope in worldly things, but such hope is ultimately empty and leads to destruction. True hope is found only in God.

The Importance of Spiritual Insight
Spiritual blindness leads to a lack of understanding and poor decision-making. Seeking God's wisdom and guidance is crucial for a life aligned with His will.

The Urgency of Repentance
Zophar's message, though harsh, underscores the need for repentance. Turning away from wickedness and towards God is essential for salvation and true hope.

The Reality of Divine Justice
God's justice is a central theme, reminding believers that while the wicked may seem to prosper temporarily, their end is certain without repentance.(20) As the giving up of the ghost.--Omit the as of comparison; or do so, and take the margin. Thus ends the first part of this mighty argument, the first fytte of this grand poem.

Verse 20. - Had Zophar ended with ver. 19 Job might possibly have taken some comfort from his speech, holding out, as it did, a hope of restoration to God's favour and a return to happiness. But, as if to accentuate the unfavourable view which he takes of Job's conduct and character, he will not end with words of good omen, but appends a passage which has a ring of malice, menace, and condemnation. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail; or, waste away grew weary, i.e. of looking for a help that does not come, and a deliverer who does not make his appearance. And they shall not escape; literally, their refuge is perished from them. And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost; rather, shall be the giving up of the ghost. They shall have no other hope but death - a manifest allusion to Job's repeated declarations that he looks for death, longs for it, and has no expectation of any other deliverance (see Job 3:21, 22; Job 6:7, 8; Job 7:15; Job 10:1, 18. etc.). Such, says Zophar, is always the final condition of the wicked.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the eyes
וְעֵינֵ֥י (wə·‘ê·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֗ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

will fail,
תִּ֫כְלֶ֥ינָה (tiḵ·le·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

their escape route
וּ֭מָנוֹס (ū·mā·nō·ws)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4498: Flight, place of escape or refuge

will be cut off,
אָבַ֣ד (’ā·ḇaḏ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

and they will hope
וְ֝תִקְוָתָ֗ם (wə·ṯiq·wā·ṯām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8615: A cord, expectancy

for their last breath.”
מַֽפַּח־ (map·paḥ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4646: A breathing out, expiring


Links
Job 11:20 NIV
Job 11:20 NLT
Job 11:20 ESV
Job 11:20 NASB
Job 11:20 KJV

Job 11:20 BibleApps.com
Job 11:20 Biblia Paralela
Job 11:20 Chinese Bible
Job 11:20 French Bible
Job 11:20 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall (Jb)
Job 11:19
Top of Page
Top of Page