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?
• 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?
• New Living Translation (NLT)The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?

Context of Job 9:24

22It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? 25“My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. 26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their 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 12:6The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure— those God has in his hand.
• Job 21:7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
• Psalms 17:14By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
• Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
• Daniel 4:17“ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
• Daniel 5:18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.
• Daniel 7:7“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
• Habakkuk 1:14You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
• 2 Samuel 15:30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
• 2 Samuel 19:4The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
• Esther 6:12Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
• Esther 7:8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
• Jeremiah 14:4The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.
• Job 24:25“If this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?”
• Job 32:2But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very 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