Job 24:18

Job 24:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
• New International Version (NIV)“Yet they are foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one goes to the vineyards.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"You say, 'Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“They should be swift on the face of the waters, Their portion should be cursed in the earth, So that no one would turn into the way of their vineyards.

Context of Job 24:18

16In the dark they dig into [the penetrable walls of] houses; They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light [of day]. 17For the morning is the same to him as the thick darkness [of midnight]; For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness. “They are insignificant on the surface of the water; Their portion is cursed on the earth; They do not turn toward the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters; So does Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) [consume] those who have sinned. 20A mother will forget him; The worm feeds on him until he is no longer remembered. And wickedness will be broken like a tree [which cannot be restored].

Job 24:18 word by word

קַֽל־ה֤וּא׀ עַל־פְּנֵי־מַ֗יִם תְּקֻלַּ֣ל חֶלְקָתָ֣ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ לֹֽא־יִ֝פְנֶה דֶּ֣רֶךְ כְּרָמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• swiftקַלqal · swiftH7031
• as the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• as the watersפָּנֶהpânîym · face: surfaceH6440
• their portionחֶלְקָהchelqâh · portionH2513
• is cursedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• he beholdethפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
• not the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
• of the vineyardsכֶּרֶםkerem · vineyardH3754

Cross-references for Job 24:18

• Psalms 58:7Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
• Psalms 73:18Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
• Isaiah 23:10Overflow your land like [the overflow of] the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; There is no more restraint [on you to make you pay tribute to Tyre].
• Deuteronomy 28:16“You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.
• Psalms 69:22May their table [with all its abundance and luxury] become a snare [to them]; And when they are in peace [secure at their sacrificial feasts], may it become a trap.
• Proverbs 3:33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just and righteous.
• Malachi 2:2If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.

Commentaries on Job 24:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18He is swift as the waters - Literally, Light is he on the face of the waters: and cursed shall be their portion on the earth, which Mr. Good translates: - Miserable is this man on the waters: Deeply miserable the lot of those on dry land. He beholdeth not the way of the vineyards - These no longer flourish or bring forth fruit. The labor of the vintage fails.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18He is swift as the waters - Noyes renders this, “They are as swift as the skiff upon the waters.” Dr. Good, “Miserable is this man upon the waters.” Wemyss, “Such should be as foam upon the waters.” Le Clerc says that there is scarcely any passage of the Scriptures more obscure than this, and the variety of rendering adopted will show at once the perplexity of expositors. Rosenmuller supposes that the particle of comparison (כ k ) is to be understood, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are formed in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24These ideas seem to go against Job's observations. Some scholars think Bildad or Zophar might have said them. However, Job might have been speaking against evil people, making fun of his friends' opinions by quoting them. Or he might have meant that the fate of evil people also affects those in a right relationship with God. His friends described this earlier (5:2–7; 15:17–25; 8:8–19; 18:5–21; 20:4–29; 21:23–26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-242-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24). Some--the wicked. landmarks--boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 24:18

• Adultery
• Homicide
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Covering
• Light
• Pluck
• Tread
• Job, Book of

Commentaries on Job 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary