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?
• New International Version (NIV)When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
• 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?

Context of Job 9:24

22It is all the same, therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23If a scourge smites suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. If the land falls into the hand of the wicked He blindfolds the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? 25“My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away without seeing goodness. 26They slip by like reed boats, like an eagle swooping down on its 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 prosper, and there is security for those who provoke God— for those whom God brings in His hand.
• Job 21:7Why do the wicked go on living, growing old and increasing in power?
• Psalms 17:14from men, with Your hand, Adonai, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their belly with Your treasure —with plenty of children— and leave their surplus to their babes.
• Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are You, Adonai, when I plead my case with You. Yet I speak with You about justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous thrive?
• Daniel 4:17The tree that you saw grow large and strong, whose top reached to heaven and that was visible to all the earth,
• Daniel 5:18Your majesty, God Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor.
• Daniel 7:7“After this in my vision at night, I looked and behold there was a fourth beast—terrifying, frightening, tremendously strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed—and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it; it had ten horns.
• Habakkuk 1:14You made man like the fish of the sea, like a creeping thing— with no one ruling over him.
• 2 Samuel 15:30Then David continued to go up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. He had his head covered and was walking barefoot. So all the people with him each covered his head as they went up, weeping as they ascended.
• 2 Samuel 19:4So the troops entered into the city stealthily that day, like troops who are ashamed after running away in battle.
• Esther 6:12Afterwards, Mordecai then returned to the king’s gate, but Haman rushed to his home, grief-stricken and with his head covered.
• Esther 7:8When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the same couch where Esther was. The king exclaimed, “Will he also assault the queen while she is with me in the palace?” As soon as these words came out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
• Jeremiah 14:4Because the ground is cracked, since there has been no rain in the land, the farmers are ashamed— they cover their heads.
• Job 24:25Now if it is not so, who can prove me a liar, and reduce my speech to nothing?”
• Job 32:2Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite of the clan of Ram became very angry. He was 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