Job 34:19
in Job 34who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
KJV
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
⋯
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)
How much less to him that accepteth not the person of princes - To accept the person of anyone is to treat him with special favor on account of his rank, his wealth, or from favoritism and partiality. This God often disclaims in respect to himself; (compare Gal 2:6; Act 10:34; 2Ch 19:7; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25), and solemnly forbids it in others; see Jas 2:1, Jas 2:3,Jas 2:9; Lev 19:15; Deu 1:17; Deu 16:19. The meaning here is, that God is entirely impartial in his administration, and treats all as they ought to be treated.
This site's exposition
who is not partial to princes
on Job 34:19-20
Elihu carries the argument from earthly kings to the Creator, “who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor”. Barnes reads “without human hand” as a claim that God's justice needs no human agent, a point Elihu presses in the verses that follow.
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
Who accepteth not the person of princes, and hath not regarded a tyrant, when disputing against the poor. The very mode of man's creation shews, how far he surpasses all things beside. For the reason which has been conferred on man proclaims how far a rational nature surpasses all things which are deficient in either life, or sense, or reason. And yet, because we close our eyes to inward and invisible objects, and feast them on those which are seen, we most commonly esteem a man, not for what he is in himself, but from what is accidental to him.
In the third place he puts the rulers of cities when he says, "who does not discriminate in favor of the princes," so that he does not accuse and judge them for their sins. In the fourth place he speaks about tyrants who do not …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Hear this, That God is to be acknowledged and submitted to in all that he does. Divers considerations Elihu here suggests to Job, to beget in him great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit and proceed no further in his quarrel with him. God is almighty, and able to deal with the strongest of men when he enters into judgment with them (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
That accepteth not - If it be utterly improper to speak against a king or civil governor, how much more so to speak disrespectfully of God, who is not influenced by human caprices or considerations, and who regards the rich and the poor alike, being equally his creatures, and equally dependent on his providence and mercy for their support and salvation.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָשָׂ֨א׀ | nasa' | he lifts up | H5375 → | 656 times |
| פְּנֵ֥י | penei | [the] faces of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| שָׂרִ֗ים | sarim | princes | H8269 → | 421 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נִכַּר־ | nikar- | he regards | H5234 → | 49 times |
| שׁ֭וֹעַ | shoa' | a rich person | H7771 → | |
| לִפְנֵי־ | lifnei- | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| דָ֑ל | dal | a poor [person] | H1800 → | 47 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה | maaseh | [are the] work of | H4639 → | 236 times |
| יָדָ֣יו | yadav | hands his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| כֻּלָּֽם׃ | kulam | all of them | H3605 → | 5413 times |
אֲשֶׁ֤רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
נָשָׂ֨א׀he lifts up
nasa'H5375 →656 times
פְּנֵ֥י[the] faces of
peneiH6440 →2123 times
שָׂרִ֗יםprinces
sarimH8269 →421 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
נִכַּר־he regards
nikar-H5234 →49 times
שׁ֭וֹעַa rich person
shoa'H7771 →
לִפְנֵי־<to> before
lifnei-H6440 →2123 times
דָ֑לa poor [person]
dalH1800 →47 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה[are the] work of
maasehH4639 →236 times
יָדָ֣יוhands his
yadavH3027 →1618 times
כֻּלָּֽם׃all of them
kulamH3605 →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
Romans 2:11For God does not show favoritism.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Acts 10:34
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 19:7
And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 2:6
But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 10:17
Through
Acts 10:34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
it leads to
- Romans 2:11
For God does not show favoritism.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Romans 2:11
Through
James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
it leads to
- Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
- Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
- Matthew 5:3
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); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JOB 34:18-19; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXV; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.