Job 34 · Verse 29

Job 34:29

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

Job 34:29, King James Version

Job 34:29 in other translations

BSB	But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
WEB	When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
ASV	When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
YLT	And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, It is the same.
DARBY	When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
BBE	...
Webster	When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

What does Job 34:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

29. (Pr 16:7; Is 26:3). make trouble--rather, "condemn" (Ro 8:33, 34). Maurer, from the reference being only to the godless, in the next clause, and Job 34:20 translates, "When God keeps quiet" (leaves men to perish) Psa 83:1; [Umbreit] from the Arabic (strikes to the earth), "who shall condemn Him as unjust?" Job 34:17. hideth ... face--(Job 23:8, 9; Psa 13:1). it be done--Whether it be against a guilty nation (2Ki 18:9-12) or an individual, that God acts so.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? - How beautiful is this sentiment, and how true! He ever acts as a sovereign, but his actions are all wise and just. If he give quietness, who dares to give trouble? And if he give to every human being the right to worship himself according to their conscience, for the director of which he gives both his word and his Spirit, who shall dare to say to another, "Thou shalt worship God in my way, or not at all;" or, through a pretended liberality, say, "Thou shalt be tolerated to worship him so and so;" and even that toleration be shackled and limited? Reader, thou hast as much right to tolerate another's mode of worship as he has to tolerate thine: or, in other words, neither of you have any such right at all; the pretension is as absurd as it is wicked. If, however, there be any thing in the religious practice of any particular people that is inimical, by fair construction, to the peace of the country, then the civil power may interfere, as they ought to do in all cases of insurrection; but let no such inference be drawn when not most obviously flowing from the practice of the people, and the principles they profess; and when solemnly disclaimed by the persons in question. Whatever converts sinners from the error of their ways must be good to society and profitable to the state. Whether it be done against a nation - He defends and supports nations or individuals howsoever weak, against their enemies, howsoever numerous and powerful. He destroys nations or individuals who have filled up the measure of their political or moral iniquity, though all other nations and individuals stand up in their support.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 34:16-30

Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his…

Read the full comment on Job 34:16-30 →

Job 34:29 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.

וְה֤וּאve.Hu'and heH1931

יַשְׁקִ֨ט\׀yash.Kithe will keep quietH8252

וּמִ֥יu.Miand who?H4310

יַרְשִׁ֗עַyar.Shi.a'will he condemn [him] as guiltyH7561

וְיַסְתֵּ֣רve.yas.Terand he may hideH5641

פָּ֭נִיםPa.nimfaceH6440

וּמִ֣יu.Miand who?H4310

יְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּye.shu.Re.nuwill he observe himH7789

וְעַל\־ve.'al-and overH5921

גּ֖וֹיGoya nationH1471

וְעַל\־ve.'al-and overH5921

אָדָ֣ם'a.Dama personH120

יָֽחַד\׃Ya.chadalikeH3162

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

Cross references for Job 34:29

Job 23:13
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Psalms 27:9
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Romans 8:31-34
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalms 30:7
Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
Isaiah 32:17
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
2 Samuel 7:1
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 Kings 18:9-12
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
Job 12:14
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Isaiah 14:3-8
And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

When he giveth.
29:1-3; 2Sa 7:1; Isa 14:3-8; 26:3; 32:17; Joh 14:27; Ro 8:31-34
Php 4:7
when he hideth.
23:8,9; Ps 13:1; 27:9; 30:7; 143:7
who then can behold.
12:14; 23:13
whether.
2Ki 18:9-12; 2Ch 36:14-17; Jer 27:8

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

Context

Job 34:28
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
Job 34:29
When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
Job 34:30
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Read all of Job 34

Job 34:29 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y si él diere reposo, ¿quién inquietará? si escondiere el rostro, ¿quién lo mirará? Esto sobre una nación, y lo mismo sobre un hombre;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Quand il donne la tranquillité, qui troublera? Il cache sa face, et qui le verra? Il fait ainsi, soit à une nation, soit à un homme,
German Elberfelder 1871	Schafft er Ruhe, wer will beunruhigen? Und verbirgt er das Angesicht, wer kann ihn schauen? So handelt er sowohl gegen ein Volk, als auch gegen einen Menschen zumal,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ipso enim concedente pacem, quis est qui condemnet? ex quo absconderit vultum, quis est qui contempletur eum, et super gentes, et super omnes homines?