Job 21 · Verse 7

Job 21:7

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Job 21:7, King James Version

Job 21:7 in other translations

BSBWhy do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
WEB“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
ASVWherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
YLTWherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.
DARBYWherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
BBEWhy is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
WebsterWhy do the wicked live, become old, and, are mighty in power?

What does Job 21:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. The answer is Ro 2:4; 1Ti 1:16; Psa 73:18; Ec 8:11-13; Lu 2:35-end; Pr 16:4; Ro 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, 14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 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?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 21:7-16
Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light of God and religion, as if because they have so much of this world, they had no need to look after another. But religion is not a vain thing. If it be so to us, we may thank ourselves for resting on the outside of it. Job shows their folly.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 21:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַדּ֣וּעַma.Du.a'why?H4069
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
יִחְי֑וּyich.Yudo they liveH2421
עָ֝תְק֗וּ'a.te.Kuthey grow oldH6275
גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
גָּ֥בְרוּGa.ve.rudo they become strong?H1396
חָֽיִל\׃Cha.yilstrengthH2428

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 21:7

  • Psalms 73:3-12

    For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. …

  • Job 12:6

    The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

  • Psalms 37:35

    I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

  • Jeremiah 12:1-3

    Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

  • Habakkuk 1:13

    Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

  • Psalms 17:10

    They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

  • Daniel 4:17

    This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

  • Revelation 13:2-7

    And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. …

  • Revelation 17:2-4

    With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

  • Habakkuk 1:15-16

    They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
12:6; Ps 17:10; 73:3-12; Jer 12:1-3; Hab 1:15,16
mighty.
Ps 37:35; Da 4:17; Re 13:2-7; 17:2-4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 21:6

    Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

  • Job 21:7

    Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

  • Job 21:8

    Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

Read all of Job 21

Job 21:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿Por qué viven los impíos, y se envejecen, y aun crecen en riquezas?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Pourquoi les méchants vivent-ils, deviennent-ils âgés, et croissent-ils même en force?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Warum leben die Gesetzlosen, werden alt, nehmen gar an Macht zu?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?