Job 34:13

Job 34:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

Context of Job 34:13

11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. 12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? 14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, 15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

Job 34:13 word by word

מִֽי־פָקַ֣ד עָלָ֣יו אָ֑רְצָה וּמִ֥י שָׂ֝֗ם תֵּבֵ֥ל כֻּלָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who hath given him a chargeפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
• over the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• or who hath disposedשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• the whole worldתֵּבֵלtêbêl · worldH8398

Cross-references for Job 34:13

• Job 36:23Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
• Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
• Job 40:8“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
• 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
• Proverbs 8:23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
• Isaiah 40:13Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
• Daniel 4:35All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
• Romans 11:34“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

Commentaries on Job 34:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Who hath given him a charge - Who is it that governs the world? Is it not God? Who disposes of all things in it? Is it not the Almighty, by his just and merciful providence? The government of the world shows the care, the justice, and the mercy of God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? - That is, he is the great original Proprietor and Ruler of all. He has derived his authority to govern from no one; he is under subjection to no one, and he has, therefore, an absolute right to do his own pleasure. Reigning then with absolute and original authority, no one has a right to call in question the equity of what he does. The argument of Elihu here, that God would do right, is derived solely from his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 Elihu had showed Job, that God meant him no hurt by afflicting him, but intended his spiritual benefit. Here he shows, that God did him no wrong by afflicting him. If the former did not satisfy him, this ought to silence him. God cannot do wickedness, nor the Almighty commit wrong. If services now go unrewarded, and sins now go unpunished, yet there is a day coming, when God will fully render to every man according to his works. Further…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The passage connects three ideas to the belief that God can do no wrong (34:10, 12): God rewards or punishes people based on their actions (34:11); As the creator, God does not have to answer to anyone (34:13). Every living being relies on God for life. God can take life away without being wrong (34:14–15; compare Romans 9:19–29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. If the world were not God's property, as having been made by Him, but committed to His charge by some superior, it might be possible for Him to act unjustly, as He would not thereby be injuring Himself; but as it is, for God to act unjustly would undermine the whole order of the world, and so would injure God's own property (Job 36:23). disposed--hath founded (Is 44:7), established the circle of the globe.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 34:13

• God

In the dictionaries

• Chastisement
• Choose
• Dust
• Elihu
• Fit
• Charge; Chargeable
• Providence
• World, Cosmological

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