New King James Version
Job 24:23
23He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.
Job 24:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
- New International Version (NIV)He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.
Context of Job 24:23
21For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow. 22“But God draws the mighty away with His power; He rises up, but no man is sure of life. He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, Then they are gone. They are brought low; They are taken out of the way like all others; They dry out like the heads of grain. 25“Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing?”
Read all of Job 24Job 24:23 word by word
יִתֶּן־ל֣וֹ לָ֭בֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּ עַל־דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 24:23
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
- Ecclesiastes 8:11Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
- Isaiah 10:8For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings?
- Isaiah 56:12“Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.”
- Luke 12:16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
- Psalms 10:13Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”
- Psalms 11:4The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
- Proverbs 5:21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths.
- Proverbs 15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
- Proverbs 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.
- Amos 8:7The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their works.
- Amos 9:2“Though they dig into hell, From there My hand shall take them; Though they climb up to heaven, From there I will bring them down;
- Habakkuk 1:13You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
Commentaries on Job 24:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Though it be given him to be in safety - The Vulgate gives this verse a singular turn: Dedit ei Deus locum paenitentiae, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam, "God gave him space for repentance, but he has abused it through pride." This is by no means conformable to the original. I think the words should be translated thus: "He gives them (i.e., the guards) to him for security, and he leans upon them; yet his eyes are upon their ways." Though he have taken…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Though it be given him to be in safety - That is, God gives him safety. The name God is often understood, or not expressed. The meaning is, that God gives this wicked man, or oppressor, safety. He is permitted to live a life of security and tranquility. Whereon he resteth - Or, rather, “And he is sustained, or upheld” - (וישׁען veyshâ‛an ). The meaning is, that he is sustained or upheld by God. Yet his eyes are upon their ways - “And the eyes of God are…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are formed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24These ideas seem to go against Job's observations. Some scholars think Bildad or Zophar might have said them. However, Job might have been speaking against evil people, making fun of his friends' opinions by quoting them. Or he might have meant that the fate of evil people also affects those in a right relationship with God. His friends described this earlier (5:2–7; 15:17–25; 8:8–19; 18:5–21; 20:4–29; 21:23–26).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-242-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24). Some--the wicked. landmarks--boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 24:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 24
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries