Job 21:7

Job 21:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
• New International Version (NIV)Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?

Context of Job 21:7

5When you look at me, you should be upset. You should cover your mouth with your hand. 6I think about what has happened to me. It makes me very afraid. My body shakes with fear. Why do wicked people continue to live for a long time? The older they become, the more power they have. 8They see their own children grow and become strong. Their children also have strong families. 9They are safe in their homes and they are not afraid. God does not punish them.

Job 21:7 word by word

מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־גָּ֥בְרוּ חָֽיִל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wherefore do the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
• become oldעָתַק‛âthaq · to proceedH6275
• yea, are mightyגָּבַרgâbar · to prevailH1396
• in powerחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428

Cross-references for Job 21:7

• Job 12:6But robbers seem to live in peace. They cause God to be angry but they think that they are safe. They trust their own strength as their god.
• Psalms 17:10They refuse to be kind to anyone. They speak proud words.
• Psalms 73:3When I saw that wicked people had plenty of things, I was jealous of those proud people.
• Jeremiah 12:1Lord, when I complain to you, you always do what is right. But I must ask you about your justice. Why do wicked people have success in life? Why do people who cheat their friends live in comfort?
• Habakkuk 1:15The Babylonians can easily catch them, like people who catch fish with hooks. They throw their nets into the water, and they catch as many as they want. When they store their fish in special nets, they sing happy songs.
• Psalms 37:35I have seen cruel, wicked people become very powerful, like trees that grow well in good soil.
• Daniel 4:17The holy angels who take care of the earth have decided this. It is their command. Now everyone will be sure that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. He gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses. He causes humble men to rule as kings.” ’
• Revelation 13:2The wild animal that I saw was like a leopard. But its feet were like a bear's feet and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave his own power and great authority to the wild animal so that it could rule as king.
• Revelation 17:2It is like the kings who rule on the earth have had sex with that bad woman. She has led the people who live on the earth to do bad things. They have become drunk from the strong wine that she has given to them.’

Commentaries on Job 21:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Wherefore do the wicked live - You have frequently asserted that the wicked are invariably punished in this life; and that the righteous are ever distinguished by the strongest marks of God's providential kindness; how then does it come that many wicked men live long and prosperously, and at last die in peace, without any evidence whatever of God's displeasure? This is a fact that is occurring daily; none can deny it; how then will you reconcile it with…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Wherefore do the wicked live? - Job comes now to the main design of his argument in this chapter, to show that it is a fact, that the wicked often have great prosperity; that they are not treated in this life according to their character; and that it is not a fact that men of eminent wickedness, as his friends maintained, would meet, in this life, with proportionate sufferings. He says, that the fact is, that they enjoy great prosperity; that they live to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light of God and religion, as if because they have so much…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. The answer is Ro 2:4; 1Ti 1:16; Psa 73:18; Ec 8:11-13; Lu 2:35-end; Pr 16:4; Ro 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, 14).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 21:7

• Happiness
• Rich, the
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Bands

Commentaries on Job 21

• 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
• EGW Writings