New Living Translation
Job 34:17
17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
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?
- New International Version (NIV)Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
- 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?
Context of Job 34:17
15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust. 16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say. Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge? 18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’ 19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.
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 18:25Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
- 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
- Romans 3:5“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)
- Job 1:22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
- Job 40:8“Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?
- 2 Samuel 19:21Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!”
- Romans 9:14Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not!
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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