God’s Word Translation
Job 34:18
18Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king, ‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’ or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’
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,’
- English Standard Version (ESV)who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
Context of Job 34:18
16“If you understand, listen to this. Open your ears to my words! 17Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern? Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty? Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king, ‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’ or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’ 19The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all. 20They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.
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“Never show disrespect for God or curse a leader of your people.
- Proverbs 17:26To punish an innocent person is not good. To strike down noble people is not right.
- Acts 23:3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you hypocrite! You sit there and judge me by Moses’ Teachings and yet you break those teachings by ordering these men to strike me!”
- Romans 13:7Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person.
- 1 Peter 2:17Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
- 2 Peter 2:10This is especially true of those who follow their corrupt nature along the path of impure desires and who despise the Lord’s authority. These false teachers are bold and arrogant. They aren’t afraid to insult the ⌞Lord’s⌟ glory.
- Jude 1:8Yet, in a similar way, the people who slipped in among you are dreamers. They contaminate their bodies with sin, reject the Lord’s authority, and insult his glory.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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