Job 21:7
in Job 21Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
KJV
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
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This verse in Job 21
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wherefore do the wicked live? - Job comes now to the main design of his argument in this chapter, to show that it is a fact, that the wicked often have great prosperity; that they are not treated in this life according to their character; and that it is not a fact that men of eminent wickedness, as his friends maintained, would meet, in this life, with proportionate sufferings.
This site's exposition
Why do the wicked live on
on Job 21:7-9
Job sets plain observation against the doctrine Zophar has just stated at 20:5: "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power". The line "Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them" answers Zophar's catalogue of ruin point for point.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Since you believe to be wise and to know the reason why I suffer these afflictions, now answer my question. Why does it happen that very often many impious persons reach an old age in their wealth?… Their fields produce large crops, and they are …
Certainly God does not cease from benefiting the wicked, in order to show that he has no hate against them, so that they may not say, "Since God hates us, he will never open the door of repentance to us." And while he severely and …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since these premises were sufficient to call the others to attention, he proceeds to the question. Since Sophar had said (20:5) that the prosperity of evil men, if it happens, ends in a brief time and is changed into evil for them, Job, therefore, disproves …
Ver. 7. Wherefore do the wicked live, are lifted up, and strengthened by riches? 45. For except the patience of God bore with them, they would never live long in their sins. For they are 'lifted up by riches,' when they first begin to be powerful, but they are 'strengthened,' when they are permitted to continue long in this life. Since those whose substance uplifts them, length of days strengthens in the pride of their power. Or surely they are said to be lifted up and strengthened, in that they are 'lifted up' by honours, 'strengthened' by substance.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Wherefore do the wicked live,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Nay, (2.) They become old; they have the honour, satisfaction, and advantage of living long, long enough to raise their families and estates. We read of a sinner a hundred years old, Isa. lxv. (3.) They are mighty in power, are preferred to places of authority and trust, and not only make a great figure, but bear a great sway.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Ro 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, 14).
Wherefore do the wicked live - You have frequently asserted that the wicked are invariably punished in this life; and that the righteous are ever distinguished by the strongest marks of God’s providential kindness; how then does it come that many wicked men live long and prosperously, and at last die in peace, without any evidence whatever of God’s displeasure? This is a fact that is occurring daily; none can deny it; how then will you reconcile it with your maxims?
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מַדּ֣וּעַ | madua' | why? | H4069 → | 72 times |
| רְשָׁעִ֣ים | reshaim | wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| יִחְי֑וּ | yichyu | do they live | H2421 → | 282 times |
| עָ֝תְק֗וּ | ʾateku | they grow old | H6275 → | 9 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| גָּ֥בְרוּ | gaveru | do they become strong? | H1396 → | 25 times |
| חָֽיִל׃ | chayil | strength | H2428 → | 246 times |
מַדּ֣וּעַwhy?
madua'H4069 →72 times
רְשָׁעִ֣יםwicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
יִחְי֑וּdo they live
yichyuH2421 →282 times
עָ֝תְק֗וּthey grow old
ʾatekuH6275 →9 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
גָּ֥בְרוּdo they become strong?
gaveruH1396 →25 times
חָֽיִל׃strength
chayilH2428 →246 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Habakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than…
it leads to
- Psalms 5:4–5
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.
- Psalms 34:15–16
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- Jeremiah 12:1–2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live…
- Habakkuk 1:3–4
Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
- Proverbs 31:8–9
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
- Psalms 5:4–5
Through
Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
it leads to
- Job 5:3
I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
- Psalms 73:3–11
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Job 5:3
Through
Job 12:6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.
it leads to
- Job 9:24
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
- Job 9:24
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JOB 21:3-7; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XV; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Olympiodorus of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON JOB 21:6-14 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.