[6-7] Though his height mount up to the heavens,
and his head reach to the clouds,
he will perish forever like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
Probably the most basic paradigm of biblical symbolism is: hierarchy.
The relationship of heaven and earth presupposes hierarchy: “On earth as in heaven.”
The fractal nature of symbolism presupposes hierarchy: cosmic, national, tribal, familial, individual.
Sin presupposes hierarchy: “You will be like God.”
And modernity is the crisis of authority: “No hierarchy!” Or: “Invert the hierarchy!”
This last belief is why we fail to grasp hierarchy’s importance, despite the evidence, even in the (meme-worthy) behavior of the lobster, since prehistoric time.
So though Zophar’s screed against the wicked has little other symbolism, hierarchy is evident throughout: The wicked may be up briefly, but s/he will be down permanently.
(So if Job was up and is now down, then he is wicked, right?! No, WRONG.)
