Job 34:13
in Job 34Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
KJV
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
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This verse in Job 34
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? - That is, he is the great original Proprietor and Ruler of all. He has derived his authority to govern from no one; he is under subjection to no one, and he has, therefore, an absolute right to do his own pleasure. Reigning then with absolute and original authority, no one has a right to call in question the equity of what he does. The argument of Elihu here, that God would do right, is derived solely from his independence.
This site's exposition
Who gave Him charge over the earth
on Job 34:13-15
The question “Who gave Him charge over the earth” grounds God's justice in His place as Creator. If He were to “withdraw His Spirit and breath”, “all flesh would perish together”. Davidson notes that Elihu anticipates the Lord's answer, an argument from unaccountable power Job will meet from another mouth.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
He proves there is no injustice in God first from the fact that if God were unjust, one would not find justice anywhere, since the universal judgment of all men pertains to him, and so he says, "What other has he constituted on the earth?" …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXIV · Written before 604.
proposed
Whom else hath He appointed over the earth, or whom hath He placed over the world which He hath made? In order, namely, that thou mayest understand, No one. For He governs indeed by Himself the world which He created by Himself: nor does He need the aid of others in governing, Who needed it not for creating.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Shall not he that disposes of the whole world dispose of us and our concerns? (2.) It is as certain that he does not derive his power from any, nor is it a dispensation that is committed to him, but his power is original, and, like his being, of himself; and therefore, if he were not perfectly just, all the world and the affairs of it would soon be in the utmost confusion.
Who hath given him a charge over the earth?.... Or who hath committed the earth unto him, and made it his care and charge? Is there any above him that has put him into this post and office? Under whose direction and command is he, and to whom is he accountable?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"If He were to set His heart on man," either to injure him, or to take strict account of his sins. The connection supports rather [UMBREIT], "If He had regard to himself (only), and were to gather unto Himself (Ps 104:29) man's spirit, &c. (which he sends forth, Ps 104:30;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Who hath given him a charge - Who is it that governs the world? Is it not God? Who disposes of all things in it? Is it not the Almighty, by his just and merciful providence? The government of the world shows the care, the justice, and the mercy of God.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Who gave Him a charge over the earth Who rules over Him, saying, ‘Why did You do so?’ or ‘I did not command You so’? For who gave Him a charge over His dominion, and why should He find pretexts for His creatures?
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
If He puts His heart on man to destroy him, why should He come upon him with a pretext? He can immediately gather in to Himself.. His spirit and His soul His spirit and His soul that He blew into him, and no one will stop Him.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִֽי־ | mi- | who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| פָקַ֣ד | fakad | did he assign | H6485 → | 303 times |
| עָלָ֣יו | ʾalav | on him | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אָ֑רְצָה | ʾaretzah | [the] earth towards | H776 → | 2504 times |
| וּמִ֥י | umi | and who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| שָׂ֝֗ם | sam | did he put | H7760 → | 584 times |
| תֵּבֵ֥ל | tevel | [the] world | H8398 → | 36 times |
| כֻּלָּֽהּ׃ | kulah | all of it | H3605 → | 5413 times |
מִֽי־who?
mi-H4310 →423 times
פָקַ֣דdid he assign
fakadH6485 →303 times
עָלָ֣יוon him
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
אָ֑רְצָה[the] earth towards
ʾaretzahH776 →2504 times
וּמִ֥יand who?
umiH4310 →423 times
שָׂ֝֗םdid he put
samH7760 →584 times
תֵּבֵ֥ל[the] world
tevelH8398 →36 times
כֻּלָּֽהּ׃all of it
kulahH3605 →5413 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
1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom,…
it leads to
- Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the…
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Daniel 4:34–35
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives…
- Revelation 5:12–13
In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
- Jude 1:25
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
- Hebrews 1:3
Through
Job 36:23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
- Job 8:3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
- Isaiah 40:13–14
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on A. B. Davidson, The Book of Job, Cambridge Bible; Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXIV; 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 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.