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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)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?
• 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?

Context of Job 9:24

22“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’ 23If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent. If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it? 25“My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness. 26They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its 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 12:6But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident – who carry their god in their hands.
• Job 21:7“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?
• Psalms 17:14Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.
• Psalms 73:3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?
• Daniel 4:17This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
• Daniel 5:18As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.
• Daniel 7:7“After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared – one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.
• Habakkuk 1:14You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler.
• 2 Samuel 15:30As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up.
• 2 Samuel 19:4The king covered his face and cried out loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
• Esther 6:12Then Mordecai again sat at the king’s gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head.
• Esther 7:8When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down on the couch where Esther was lying. The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!” As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
• Jeremiah 14:4They are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands.
• Job 24:25“If this is not so, who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”
• Job 32:2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying 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