Job 4:9 Meaning and Explanation
“By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eliphaz declares that the wicked perish by the blast of God's breath.
What Does Job 4:9 Mean?
Eliphaz heightens his picture of judgment. The wicked, he says, perish by the blast of God and are consumed by the breath of His nostrils. The same divine breath that gives life can also sweep the guilty away like chaff before a storm wind. It is a portrait of God's power as overwhelming and decisive against evil, and Eliphaz means it as a warning Job should heed.
Scripture does testify that the breath of the Lord is mighty, that His word can scatter the proud and topple the wicked. Yet Eliphaz applies this awesome truth too narrowly, assuming Job belongs among those swept away. The breath of God is not only an instrument of judgment but also the gift of life and the renewing Spirit, the same breath that one day raises the dead and restores what sin had ruined.
Job 4:9 in the Original Language
ruach (רוּחַ), 'breath' -- the Hebrew word can mean breath, wind, or spirit, the very life-giving power that proceeds from God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 4:9
What does Job 4:9 mean?
Eliphaz declares that the wicked perish by the blast of God's breath.