6. Job (21:1-34)

Job flatly contradicts Zophar’s picture of the wicked. The wicked grow old and increase in power (v.7). Their homes are safe (21:9). Their children thrive and enjoy themselves (vv.8, 11-12). Their herds are productive (v.10) and their death is peaceful (v.13). These are the wicked who deliberately reject God (vv.14-15).

By using the phrase “how often” (vv.17-18), Job may be acknowledging that Zophar is correct concerning the fate of the wicked. Or he may be sarcastically asking for proof. Job objects to any concept of hereditary guilt even as Jeremiah (31:29), Ezekiel (18:2-3), and Jesus (Jn 9:1-3) did. He also objects to the comforters imposing their pattern of reward and punishment on God (v.22). Death is the common experience of all regardless of morality (vv.23-26).

Job senses that the comforters have really been talking about him when talking about the wicked (v.27). He concludes that the arguments of the comforters are contradicted by universal experience (vv.28-33) and dismisses them as nonsense (v.34).