Job 20:4
New International Version
“Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,

New Living Translation
“Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth,

English Standard Version
Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,

Berean Standard Bible
Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

King James Bible
Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

New King James Version
“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,

New American Standard Bible
“Do you know this from ancient times, From the establishment of mankind on earth,

NASB 1995
“Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

NASB 1977
“Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

Legacy Standard Bible
Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth,

Amplified Bible
“Do you not know this from the old days, Since the time that man was placed on the earth,

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t you know that ever since antiquity, from the time a human was placed on earth,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t you know that ever since antiquity, from the time man was placed on earth,

American Standard Version
Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

Contemporary English Version
Since the time of creation, everyone has known

English Revised Version
Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Don't you know that from ancient times, from the time humans were placed on earth,

Good News Translation
Surely you know that from ancient times, when we humans were first placed on earth,

International Standard Version
"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth?

Majority Standard Bible
Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

NET Bible
"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,

New Heart English Bible
Do you not know this from old time, since humankind was placed on earth,

Webster's Bible Translation
Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

World English Bible
Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Have you known this from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

Young's Literal Translation
This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth?

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou knewest this from everlasting when man was set upon the earth:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
This I know from the beginning, since man was placed upon the earth,

Catholic Public Domain Version
This, I know, is from the beginning, from the time that man was set over the earth:

New American Bible
Do you not know this: from of old, since human beings were placed upon the earth,

New Revised Standard Version
Do you not know this from of old, ever since mortals were placed on earth,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
This I know from of old, since man was created upon the earth,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
This I have known from the world from when Adam was created on the Earth, from The Maker of man on the Earth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Hast thou not known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked
3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply. 4Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth, 5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?…

Cross References
Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Psalm 73:18-20
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. / How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors! / Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

Proverbs 24:19-20
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. / For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. / Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Isaiah 14:12-15
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. / You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ...

Isaiah 40:23-24
He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless. / No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

Jeremiah 12:1-2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Ezekiel 28:2-10
“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god. / Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! / By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. ...

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Luke 12:16-21
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ / Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. ...

Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ...

Romans 1:18-21
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. / For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. / For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Know you not this of old, since man was placed on earth,

thou not

Job 8:8,9
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: …

Job 15:10
With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

Job 32:7
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

man

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 9:1-3
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…

Psalm 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

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Antiquity Early Earth Establishment Placed Placing Surely Time Times
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Antiquity Early Earth Establishment Placed Placing Surely Time Times
Job 20
1. Zophar shows the state and portion of the wicked














Do you not know
This phrase introduces a rhetorical question, a common device in wisdom literature, meant to provoke thought and reflection. It suggests that the knowledge being referenced is well-known and should be understood by the listener. This approach is typical in the dialogues of Job, where friends often challenge Job's understanding and perspective.

that from antiquity
The term "antiquity" refers to ancient times, emphasizing the long-standing nature of the truth being discussed. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern context where wisdom was often seen as something passed down through generations. The idea is that certain truths are timeless and have been recognized since the earliest days of human history.

since man was placed on the earth
This phrase alludes to the creation narrative found in Genesis, where God places man in the Garden of Eden. It underscores the belief in a divine order established from the beginning of time. The placement of man on earth signifies God's sovereignty and purpose in creation. This also connects to the broader biblical theme of humanity's role and responsibility on earth as stewards of God's creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and suffering. His account is a profound exploration of the nature of suffering and divine justice.

2. Zophar the Naamathite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him but ends up arguing with him. Zophar is the speaker in Job 20, and he represents a traditional view of retributive justice.

3. Antiquity
Refers to the ancient times, emphasizing the long-standing nature of the truths Zophar is about to discuss.

4. Creation of Man
The reference to "the time man was placed on the earth" alludes to the creation account, grounding Zophar's argument in the foundational events of human history.
Teaching Points
The Timelessness of God's Truths
Zophar appeals to ancient wisdom, reminding us that God's truths are eternal and unchanging. In a world of shifting values, believers can find stability in the timeless principles of Scripture.

The Importance of Historical Perspective
Understanding the past helps us navigate the present. Zophar's reference to antiquity encourages us to learn from history and apply its lessons to our lives today.

The Role of Tradition in Faith
While Zophar's application may be flawed, his respect for tradition highlights the value of grounding our faith in the historical teachings of the church and Scripture.

The Danger of Misapplying Truth
Zophar's speech, though rooted in truth, is misapplied to Job's situation. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of context and discernment in applying biblical principles.Verse 4. - Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth? These words scarcely "imply cognizance of the record (of the creation of man) in Genesis," as Canon Cook suggests; but they do imply belief in a creation of man, not an evolution; and in the existence of a continuous tradition, extending from that time to Job's. The passage is among those which make for the high antiquity of the book.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do you not know
יָ֭דַעְתָּ (yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that from
מִנִּי־ (min·nî-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

antiquity,
עַ֑ד (‘aḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5703: A, terminus, duration, advance, perpetuity

since
מִנִּ֤י (min·nî)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

man
אָדָ֣ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

was placed
שִׂ֖ים (śîm)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

on
עֲלֵי־ (‘ă·lê-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth,
אָֽרֶץ׃ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Poetry: Job 20:4 Don't you know this from old time (Jb)
Job 20:3
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