New English Translation
Job 34:18
18who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’
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 have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say. 17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One, who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’ 19who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands? 20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.
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 must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Proverbs 17:26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.
- Acts 23:3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?”
- Romans 13:7Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- 1 Peter 2:17Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- 2 Peter 2:10especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
- Jude 1:8Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult 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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