King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Think back: what innocent person has perished? Since when are the upright destroyed?
Berean Standard Bible:
Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed?
American Standard Version:
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Remember{H2142}, I pray thee, who ever perished{H6}, being innocent{H5355}? or where{H375} were the righteous{H3477} cut off{H3582}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 37:25
- I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Job 36:7
- He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
2 Peter 2:9
- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Job 8:20
- ¶ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:
Acts 28:4
- And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Ecclesiastes 9:1
- ¶ For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred [by] all [that is] before them.
Ecclesiastes 9:2
- All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.
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Commentary for Job 4:7
Job 4:7 is a verse from the Book of Job, which is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Job deals with the problem of suffering and the nature of divine justice. It recounts the story of Job, a righteous man who loses his wealth, family, and health as a result of a divine bet between God and Satan to test Job's faith.
In this verse, Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, is speaking. Eliphaz is attempting to comfort Job but ends up misapplying traditional wisdom, suggesting that only the wicked suffer. He asks Job to remember if he has ever known innocent people to perish or righteous individuals to be suddenly destroyed. Eliphaz's question reflects a common ancient belief that there is a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and sin and calamity—a retributive justice system where good is rewarded and evil is punished in this life.
The historical context of this verse is the ancient Near East, where such theological musings were common. The Book of Job, however, challenges this simplistic understanding of retribution by presenting the case of Job, who suffers despite his righteousness. The verse and the broader narrative invite readers to grapple with complex questions about the nature of God, the reason for human suffering, and the reality that the righteous do sometimes suffer unjustly in this world. This challenges the readers to consider a more nuanced view of divine justice and the human condition.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2142
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָכַר
Transliteration: zâkar
Pronunciation: zaw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well. - Strong's Number: H6
There are 14291 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָבַד
Transliteration: ʼâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy); break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. - Strong's Number: H5355
There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָקִי
Transliteration: nâqîy
Pronunciation: naw-kee'
Description: or נָקִיא; (Joel 4:19; Jonah [1:14), from נָקָה; innocent; blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent, quit. - Strong's Number: H375
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵיפֹה
Transliteration: ʼêyphôh
Pronunciation: ay-fo'
Description: from אַי and פֹּה; what place?; also (of time) when?; or (of means) how?; what manner, where. - Strong's Number: H3477
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשָׁר
Transliteration: yâshâr
Pronunciation: yaw-shawr'
Description: from יָשַׁר; straight (literally or figuratively); convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), [phrase] pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H3582
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּחַד
Transliteration: kâchad
Pronunciation: kaw-khad'
Description: a primitive root; to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy; conceal, cut down (off), desolate, hide.