Job 15:33 Meaning and Explanation
“He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eliphaz compares the wicked man to a vine and olive that lose their fruit before it ripens.
What Does Job 15:33 Mean?
Eliphaz draws two pictures from the orchard and vineyard. The wicked man is like a vine that drops its unripe grapes before they can mature, and like an olive tree that casts off its blossoms so no fruit ever forms. His promise comes to nothing; the harvest is lost before it begins.
The shed grape and the fallen blossom speak of potential that never reaches fulfillment, of a life that flowers but bears no lasting fruit. It is a sober image of waste. Eliphaz applies it to Job as proof of hidden guilt, but the reader knows better. The verse stirs in us the desire not to be such a vine, and points toward the One who abides with his people so that they may bear fruit that remains, rather than blossoms scattered fruitless to the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 15:33
What does Job 15:33 mean?
Eliphaz compares the wicked man to a vine and olive that lose their fruit before it ripens.