Job 15:20
“the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.”
What does Job 15:20 mean?
Eliphaz is making a bold claim here: that wrongdoing catches up with people, that those who harm others experience constant inner turmoil throughout their lives. He's suggesting that oppression and wickedness don't bring the satisfaction people hope for, but instead create a kind of spiritual restlessness that never fully goes away. It's worth knowing this comes during Job's suffering, when his friends are trying to convince him that his pain must be punishment for sin. That context matters because it shows how easily this truth can be weaponized, how we can use the real principle that sin damages us to blame people who are already hurting. The underlying reality, though, is still there: living against what's right does take a toll on a person's soul, even if the connection between someone's suffering and their moral failings isn't as simple or direct as Eliphaz assumes.