Job 4:9

9 At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.

Job 4:9 in Other Translations

KJV
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
ESV
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
NLT
9 A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger.
MSG
9 One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there's nothing left of them.
CSB
9 They perish at a [single] blast from God and come to an end by the breath of His nostrils.

Job 4:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 4:9

By the blast of God they perish
They and their works, the ploughers, sowers, and reapers of iniquity; the allusion is to the blasting of corn by the east wind, or by mildew having used the figures of ploughing and sowing before; and which is as soon and as easily done as corn, or anything else, is blasted in the above manner; and denotes the sudden and easy destruction of wicked men by the power of God, stirred up by his wrath and indignation, because of their sins; who when he blows a blast on their persons, substance, and families, they perish at once:

and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed;
meaning his wrath and anger, which is like a stream of brimstone, and kindles a fire on the wicked, which are as fuel to it, and are soon consumed by it; the allusion is to breath in a man's nostrils, and the heat of his wrath and fury discovered thereby: some think this refers to Job's children being destroyed by the wind, see ( Isaiah 11:4 ) .

Job 4:9 In-Context

7 “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?
8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
9 At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.
10 The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.
11 The lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Exodus 15:10; S Job 41:21; Job 15:30; Isaiah 30:33; 2 Thessalonians 2:8
  • 2. S Leviticus 26:38; Job 40:13; Isaiah 25:7
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