Job 34:18
in Job 34who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
KJV
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
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This verse in Job 34
Commentary
10 notes on this verseIs it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? - The sentence is very short, and is thus translated by the Vulgate: Qui dicit regi, Apostata? Qui vocat duces impios? “Who says to a king, Apostate? Who calls leaders impious?” Literally, Who calls a king Belial? Who calls princes wicked? Civil governors should be treated with respect; no man should speak evil of the ruler of the people. This should never be permitted. Even where the man cannot be respected, because his moral conduct is improper, even there the office is sacred, and should be reverenced.
This site's exposition
If you have understanding, hear this
on Job 34:16-18
The question “Could one who hates justice govern” turns the axiom of verse 10 on Job's own complaint. To charge God with injustice is to imagine Him hating the justice He governs by. The next question, “Will you condemn the just and mighty One”, puts that charge to Job himself.
This site's exposition
You are worthless
The Hebrew word behind worthless is Belial, as Adam Clarke notes. The Berean follows the reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate, which Jamieson, Fausset and Brown give through Maurer. It speaks of a God who calls kings wicked and punishes the great and the small alike.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Who says to a king, 'You scoundrel!' " These words are referred to God, who is the King of kings and rulers, and exercises his power on everyone, so that no rich or poor is privileged.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXIV · Written before 604.
proposed
Who saith to a king, Apostate: who calleth leaders ungodly. We know often that most of those who rule exact an inordinate degree of dread from their subjects, and that they wish them to venerate them not so much for the Lord's sake, as in the Lord's place.
He commends divine justice by first assuming that God does not respect the persons of the powerful, but he accuses them and punishes them for their sins. Among human powers, royal power is preeminent, and as to this he first says, "Who (God) says to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Is it fit to say to a king, thou art wicked?....
This would be looked upon as an insufferable affront to majesty and to magistracy; no king, no prince, would bear it. In favour of government, we presume it is a right sentence that is passed, unless the contrary be very evident; but, whatever we think, it is not fit to tell a king to his face that he is wicked.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Literally, (Is it fit) to be said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (Ex 22:28). But MAURER with the Septuagint and Vulgate reads, (It is not fit to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Thou art wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially the great, as the small.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? - The argument here is this: “There would be gross impropriety in arraigning the conduct of an earthly monarch, and using language severely condemning what he does. Respect is due to those of elevated rank. Their plans are often concealed. It is difficult to judge of them until they are fully developed. To condemn those plans, and to use the language of complaint, would not be tolerated, and would be grossly improper. How much more so when that language relates to the Great, the Infinite God, and to his eternal plans!” It may be added here, in accordance with the sentiment of Elihu, that people often indulge in thoughts and language about God which they would not tolerate respecting an earthly monarch.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַאֲמֹ֣ר | haamor | ¿ to say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְמֶ֣לֶךְ | lemelekh | to a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| בְּלִיָּ֑עַל | beliyaal | worthless person | H1100 → | |
| רָ֝שָׁ֗ע | rasha' | wicked [one] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| נְדִיבִֽים׃ | nedivim | noble [people] | H5081 → | 29 times |
הַאֲמֹ֣ר¿ to say
haamorH559 →5305 times
לְמֶ֣לֶךְto a king
lemelekhH4428 →2525 times
בְּלִיָּ֑עַלworthless person
beliyaalH1100 →
רָ֝שָׁ֗עwicked [one]
rasha'H7563 →263 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
נְדִיבִֽים׃noble [people]
nedivimH5081 →29 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
Acts 23:5“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
it leads to
- Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ecclesiastes 10:20
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Exodus 22:28
Through
Romans 13:7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
it leads to
- Luke 20:25
So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- Matthew 17:25
“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons,…
- 1 Peter 2:17–18
Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- 1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Luke 20:25
Through
Jude 1:8Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
- Hebrews 13:17
About Job
This page draws on 9 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 34:18-19; 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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.