Job 9:24

Job 9:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
• New International Version (NIV)When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?
• New Living Translation (NLT)The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?

Context of Job 9:24

22It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' 23When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25"My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. 26They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.

Job 9:24 word by word

אֶ֤רֶץ׀ נִתְּנָ֬ה בְֽיַד־רָשָׁ֗ע פְּנֵֽי־שֹׁפְטֶ֥יהָ יְכַסֶּ֑ה אִם־לֹ֖א אֵפ֣וֹא מִי־הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• is givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• into the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• he coverethכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• the facesפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• of the judgesשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• thereof; if not, whereאֵפוֹ'êphô 'êphô' · thenH645

Cross-references for Job 9:24

• Job 12:6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.
• Job 21:7Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
• Psalms 17:14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
• Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
• Daniel 4:17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'
• Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
• Daniel 7:7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
• Habakkuk 1:14You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.
• 2 Samuel 15:30But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
• 2 Samuel 19:4The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
• Esther 6:12Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
• Esther 7:8And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
• Jeremiah 14:4Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
• Job 24:25If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
• Job 32:2Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.

Commentaries on Job 9:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked - Is it not most evident that the worst men possess most of this world's goods, and that the righteous are scarcely ever in power or affluence? This was the case in Job's time; it is the case still. Therefore prosperity and adversity in this life are no marks either of God's approbation or disapprobation. He covereth the faces of the judges thereon - Or, The faces of its decisions he shall cover. God is often…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked - This is evidently designed as an illustration of the sentiment that Job was maintaining - that there was not a distribution of rewards and punishments in this life according to character. In illustration of this, he says that the wicked are raised to places of trust and power. They exercise a wide dominion over the earth, and the world is under their control. Of the truth of this there can be no doubt…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute. His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good, always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are in misery and distress: he said, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much passion in what Job here says, for God doth not afflict willingly. When the spirit is heated with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-35Job answered Bildad by describing God's universal and legal power. His speech resembles a complex legal case. It includes: A summons and response (9:3, 14–16, 19b, 32). The risk of proving himself guilty (9:20). A "mediator" (9:33–34). A question of accusation (9:12). A legal sentence (9:22). A declaration of guilt (9:28–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. Referring to righteous "judges," in antithesis to "the wicked" in the parallel first clause, whereas the wicked oppressor often has the earth given into his hand, the righteous judges are led to execution--culprits had their faces covered preparatory to execution (Es 7:8). Thus the contrast of the wicked and righteous here answers to that in Job 9:23. if not, where and who?--If God be not the cause of these anomalies, where is the cause to be found…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 9:24

• Afflictions and Adversities
• God
• Satan

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Contend
• Daysman
• Pillar
• Blindness, Judicial
• Job, Book of

Commentaries on Job 9

• 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