New International Version
Job 34:17
17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
Job 34:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
Context of Job 34:17
15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. 16“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? 18Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ 19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
Read all of Job 34Job 34:17 word by word
הַאַ֬ף שׂוֹנֵ֣א מִשְׁפָּ֣ט יַחֲב֑וֹשׁ וְאִם־צַדִּ֖יק כַּבִּ֣יר תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 34:17
- Genesis 18:25Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
- Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)
- Job 1:22In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
- Job 40:8“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
- 2 Samuel 19:21Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.”
- Romans 9:14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
Commentaries on Job 34:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Shall - he that hateth right govern? - Or, Shall he who hateth judgment, lie under obligation? It is preposterous to suppose that he who lives by no rule, should impose rules upon others. God, who is the fountain of all justice and righteousness, binds man by his laws; and wilt thou, therefore, pretend to condemn him who is the sum of righteousness?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Shall even he that hateth right govern? - Margin, as in Hebrew “bind.” That is, shall he bind by laws. The argument in this verse seems to be an appeal to what must be the conviction of mankind, that God, the Great Governor of the universe, could not be unjust. This conviction, Elihu appears to have supposed, was so deep in the human mind, that he might appeal even to Job himself for its truth. The question here asked implies that it would be impossible…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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The implication was that God could not rule if he hated justice (see Romans 3:4–7; 7:7, 13; 9:14; Galatians 2:17; 6:14). Later, God also asked if Job intended to condemn the mighty judge (Job 40:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. "Can even He who (in thy view) hateth right (justice) govern?" The government of the world would be impossible if injustice were sanctioned. God must be just, because He governs (2Sa 23:3). govern--literally, "bind," namely, by authority (so "reign," 1Sa 9:17, Margin). Umbreit translates for "govern, repress wrath, namely, against Job for his accusations. most just--rather, "Him who is at once mighty and just" (in His government of the world).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 34:17
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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