Job 20:18

Job 20:18 Meaning and Explanation

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

King James Version (KJV)

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The wicked man must give back all he worked for, gaining no enjoyment from his gains.

What Does Job 20:18 Mean?

Zophar returns to the theme of restitution. Everything the man labored to amass he must hand back; he will not get to “swallow it down” and enjoy it. The greater his fortune, the greater the repayment, and in the end he takes no pleasure in any of it. His toil yields him nothing he can savor.

The verse exposes the emptiness of gain that is hoarded apart from God. Wealth wrung from others becomes a weight to be returned, never a joy to be kept. Scripture asks what it profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. Joy is not found in clutching, but in righteousness, gratitude, and a clear conscience before the Lord.

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What does Job 20:18 mean?

The wicked man must give back all he worked for, gaining no enjoyment from his gains.

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