Job 9 · Verse 24

Job 9:24

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
Job 9:24, King James Version

Job 9:24 in other translations

BSBThe earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
WEBThe earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
ASVThe earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?
YLTEarth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not--where, who is he?
DARBYThe earth is given over into the hand of the wicked man; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
BBEThe land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
WebsterThe earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?

What does Job 9:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. Referring to righteous "judges," in antithesis to "the wicked" in the parallel first clause, whereas the wicked oppressor often has the earth given into his hand, the righteous judges are led to execution--culprits had their faces covered preparatory to execution (Es 7:8). Thus the contrast of the wicked and righteous here answers to that in Job 9:23. if not, where and who?--If God be not the cause of these anomalies, where is the cause to be found, and who is he?

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked - Is it not most evident that the worst men possess most of this world's goods, and that the righteous are scarcely ever in power or affluence? This was the case in Job's time; it is the case still. Therefore prosperity and adversity in this life are no marks either of God's approbation or disapprobation. He covereth the faces of the judges thereon - Or, The faces of its decisions he shall cover. God is often stated in Scripture as doing a thing which he only permits to be done. So he permits the eyes of judgment to be blinded; and hence false decisions. Mr. Good translates the verse thus: - "The earth is given over to the hand of Injustice; She hoodwinketh the faces of its judges. Where every one liveth is it not so?" And vindicates the translation in his learned notes: but I think the Hebrew will not bear this rendering; especially that in the third line. Where, and who is he? - If this be not the case, who is he that acts in this way, and where is he to be found? If God does not permit these things, who is it that orders them? Coverdale translates, As for the worlde, he geveth it over into the power of the wicked, such as the rulers be wherof all londes are full. Is it not so? Where is there eny, but he is soch one? This sense is clear enough, if the original will bear it. The last clause is thus rendered by the Syriac and Arabic, Who can bear his indignation?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 9:22-24

Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute. His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good, always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are in misery and distress: he said, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much passion in what Job here says, for God doth not afflict willingly…

Read the full comment on Job 9:22-24 →

Job 9:24 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.

אֶ֤רֶץ\׀'E.retza landH776
נִתְּנָ֬הni.te.Nahit has been givenH5414
בְֽיַד\־ve.yad-in [the] hand ofH3027
רָשָׁ֗עra.Sha'a wicked [person]H7563
פְּנֵֽי\־pe.nei-[the] face ofH6440
שֹׁפְטֶ֥יהָsho.fe.Tei.hajudges itsH8199
יְכַסֶּ֑הye.kha.Sehhe coversH3680
אִם\־'im-ifH518
לֹ֖אlo'notH3808
אֵפ֣וֹא'e.Fo'thenH645
מִי\־mi-who?H4310
הֽוּא\׃Hu'[is] itH1931

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

Cross references for Job 9:24

  • Job 10:3

    Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

  • Psalms 73:3-7

    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. …

  • Jeremiah 12:1-2

    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.

  • Job 21:7-15

    Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. …

  • 2 Samuel 15:30

    And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

  • Jeremiah 14:4

    Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

  • 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.

  • Daniel 5:18-21

    O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

  • Job 12:6-10

    The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? …

  • Psalms 17:14

    From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

  • Esther 6:12

    And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

  • Job 32:2

    Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
earth.
12:6-10; 21:7-15; Ps 17:14; 73:3-7; Jer 12:1,2; Da 4:17; 5:18-21
Da 7:7-28; Hab 1:14-17
he covereth.
2Sa 15:30; 19:4; Es 6:12; 7:8; Jer 14:4
if not.
24:25; 32:2

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

Context

  • Job 9:23

    If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

  • Job 9:24

    The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

  • Job 9:25

    Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La tierra es entregada en manos de los impíos, y él cubre el rostro de sus jueces. Si no es él, ¿quién es? ¿dónde está?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La terre est livrée en la main du méchant: il couvre la face de ses juges. S’il n’en est pas ainsi, qui est-ce donc?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Erde ist in die Hand des Gesetzlosen gegeben, das Angesicht ihrer Richter verhüllt er. -Wenn er es nun nicht ist, wer anders?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Terra data est in manus impii; vultum judicum ejus operit. Quod si non ille est, quis ergo est?