King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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?
Complete Jewish Bible:
The earth has been given to the power of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges -if it isn't he, then who is it?
Berean Standard Bible:
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
American Standard Version:
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: Ifit benothe, who then is it?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The earth{H776} is given{H5414} into the hand{H3027} of the wicked{H7563}: he covereth{H3680} the faces{H6440} of the judges{H8199} thereof; if not, where{H645}, and who is he?
Cross-References (KJV):
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
- For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalms 73:7
- Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Habakkuk 1:14
- And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, [that have] no ruler over them?
Habakkuk 1:17
- Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
Jeremiah 12:1
- ¶ 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?
Jeremiah 12:2
- 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.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 9:24
Job 9:24 is a part of the poetic dialogue found within the Book of Job, a wisdom text in the Hebrew Bible that explores the themes of suffering, justice, and the nature of God. The verse reflects the lament and frustration of Job, a man who has lost everything—his wealth, his children, and his health—despite being described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1). In this particular verse, Job is expressing a common observation in ancient Near Eastern society (and indeed, in many societies throughout history) that the wicked often seem to prosper and gain power, even to the extent of corrupting the legal system and escaping justice.
The phrase "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked" suggests that the world appears to be under the control of those who act unjustly, and they seem to operate without effective opposition. Job continues by stating that these wicked individuals "covereth the faces of the judges thereof," which implies that they exert influence or bribe judges to pervert justice. The rhetorical question that follows, "if not, where, [and] who [is] he?" challenges the idea that there is a place or a person who can hold the wicked accountable. This question underscores Job's struggle with the problem of evil and the apparent absence of divine justice in the world.
Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), a period when the Israelites were grappling with theodicy—the justice of God—amidst their national suffering and the prosperity of their oppressors. The verse, therefore, captures the existential and theological crisis of a people questioning why the righteous suffer while the wicked often appear to triumph. Job 9:24 is a poignant expression of this crisis, reflecting the tension between the belief in a just and sovereign God and the observed realities of an unjust world.
*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: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H7563
There are 249 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָשָׁע
Transliteration: râshâʻ
Pronunciation: raw-shaw'
Description: from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. - Strong's Number: H3680
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּסָה
Transliteration: kâçâh
Pronunciation: kaw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy); clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare כָּשָׂה. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H8199
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפַט
Transliteration: shâphaṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-fat'
Description: a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively); [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. - Strong's Number: H645
There are 146 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵפוֹ
Transliteration: ʼêphôw
Pronunciation: ay-fo'
Description: or אֵפוֹא; from פֹּה; strictly a demonstrative particle, here; but used of time, now or then; here, now, where?