Job 20:17 Meaning and Explanation
“He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked man will never enjoy the streams of honey and abundance that the blessed are promised.
What Does Job 20:17 Mean?
Zophar contrasts the doom of the wicked with the blessings he will never taste. He will not see “the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter” — the flowing pictures of a land overflowing with goodness. The abundance reserved for the upright is forever beyond his reach.
Rivers of honey and cream are the Bible’s language for a good land and a settled, blessed life, the inheritance of those who walk with God. The tragedy of the wicked is not only what he suffers but what he forfeits: the deep, simple joys that flow to the faithful. The verse stirs in us a longing for that abundant life, which Christ came to give to the full.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 20:17
What does Job 20:17 mean?
The wicked man will never enjoy the streams of honey and abundance that the blessed are promised.