Amplified Bible
Job 34:18
18God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’ Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?
Job 34:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
- New International Version (NIV)Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
- English Standard Version (ESV)who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
Context of Job 34:18
16“If you now have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words. 17Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern? And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty? God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’ Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’? 19Who is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands. 20In a moment they die, even at midnight The people are shaken and pass away, And the powerful are taken away without a [human] hand.
Read all of Job 34Job 34:18 word by word
הַאֲמֹ֣ר לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בְּלִיָּ֑עַל רָ֝שָׁ֗ע אֶל־נְדִיבִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 34:18
- Exodus 22:28“You shall not curse God, nor curse the ruler of your people [since he administers God’s law].
- Proverbs 17:26It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
- Acts 23:3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
- Romans 13:7Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.
- 1 Peter 2:17Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king.
- 2 Peter 2:10and especially those who indulge in the corrupt passions of the sin nature, and despise authority. Presumptuous and reckless, self-willed and arrogant [creatures, despising the majesty of the Lord], they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
- Jude 1:8Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties.
Commentaries on Job 34:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? - The sentence is very short, and is thus translated by the Vulgate: Qui dicit regi, Apostata? Qui vocat duces impios? "Who says to a king, Apostate? Who calls leaders impious?" Literally, Who calls a king Belial? Who calls princes wicked? Civil governors should be treated with respect; no man should speak evil of the ruler of the people. This should never be permitted. Even where the man cannot be respected…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? - The argument here is this: “There would be gross impropriety in arraigning the conduct of an earthly monarch, and using language severely condemning what he does. Respect is due to those of elevated rank. Their plans are often concealed. It is difficult to judge of them until they are fully developed. To condemn those plans, and to use the language of complaint, would not be tolerated, and would be grossly…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-30Verses 16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God. Elihu asks…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Literally, (Is it fit) to be said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (Ex 22:28). But Maurer with the Septuagint and Vulgate reads, (It is not fit to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Thou art wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially the great, as the small. This accords with Job 34:19.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 34:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 34
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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