English Standard Version
Job 34:18
18who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
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,’
- New King James Version (NKJV)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
- New Living Translation (NLT)For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’
Context of Job 34:18
16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. 17Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man,' 19who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? 20In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no 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 revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
- Proverbs 17:26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
- Acts 23:3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"
- Romans 13:7Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
- 1 Peter 2:17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
- 2 Peter 2:10and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,
- Jude 1:8Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
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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Commentaries