Job 24:21

Job 24:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
• New International Version (NIV)They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow they show no kindness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow.

Context of Job 24:21

19As dry ground and heat snatch away the melted snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; worms feed on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is broken like a tree. They prey on the childless woman who is unable to conceive, and do not deal kindly with the widow. 22Yet God drags away the mighty by his power; when he rises up, they have no assurance of life. 23He gives them a sense of security, so they can rely on it, but his eyes watch over their ways.

Job 24:21 word by word

רֹעֶ֣ה עֲ֭קָרָה לֹ֣א תֵלֵ֑ד וְ֝אַלְמָנָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְיֵטִֽיב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He evil entreatethרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• the barrenעָקָר‛âqâr · barrenH6135
• bearethיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• not: and doeth not goodיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• to the widowאַלְמָנָה'almânâh · widowH490

Cross-references for Job 24:21

• 1 Samuel 1:6Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.
• Job 24:3They drive away the donkeys owned by the fatherless and take the widow’s ox as collateral.
• Job 29:13The dying blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart rejoice.
• Job 31:16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow’s eyes go blind,

Commentaries on Job 24:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He evil entreateth the barren - I believe the original word ולה should be translated he feedeth, and so the Vulgate understood the word: Pavit enim sterilem. He has been kind to the barren woman; but he has done no good to the widow. He has shown no mercy to large families; he has been an enemy to the procreation of children. Though he may, for particular reasons, have provided for a barren woman; yet the widow he has not comforted, she being old or…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21He evil entreateth the barren - The woman who has no children to comfort or support her. He increases her calamity by acts of cruelty and oppression. To be without children, as is well known, was regarded, in the patriarchal ages, as a great calamity. And doeth not good to the widow - See the notes at Job 24:3. Notwithstanding all this, he is permitted to live in prosperity, and to die without any visible tokens of the divine displeasure.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 24:21

• Homicide
• Wicked (People)
• Widow

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