English Standard Version
Job 24:21
21"They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They cheat the woman who has no son to help her. They refuse to help the needy widow.
Context of Job 24:21
19Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.' "They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. 22Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. 23He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.
Read all of Job 24Job 24:21 word by word
רֹעֶ֣ה עֲ֭קָרָה לֹ֣א תֵלֵ֑ד וְ֝אַלְמָנָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְיֵטִֽיב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 24:21
- 1 Samuel 1:6And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
- Job 24:3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
- Job 29:13The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
- Job 31:16"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries