Job 24:12

KJV

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly [to them].

KJV (with Strong's)

Men {H4962} groan {H5008} from out of the city {H5892}, and the soul {H5315} of the wounded {H2491} crieth out {H7768}: yet God {H433} layeth {H7760} not folly {H8604} to them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Men are groaning in the city, the mortally wounded are crying for help, yet God finds nothing amiss!

Berean Standard Bible

From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

American Standard Version

From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out: Yet God regardeth not the folly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 24:12 serves as a poignant and unsettling lament from Job, who observes the pervasive suffering and injustice endured by the vulnerable within urban environments. He vividly describes the audible anguish of the oppressed and wounded, yet paradoxically concludes that God does not "lay folly" to these circumstances or to the perpetrators of such evil. This statement encapsulates Job's profound struggle to reconcile divine justice and sovereignty with the apparent impunity of the wicked and the unaddressed cries of the afflicted, challenging the simplistic theological frameworks of his friends.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Job's extended and impassioned response (chapters 23-24) to Eliphaz's third discourse, which reiterated the conventional wisdom that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. Job, however, vehemently rejects this simplistic equation, presenting a stark and unflinching tableau of widespread injustice and oppression that directly contradicts his friends' rigid theology. In this chapter, Job meticulously details various forms of societal evil—from land theft and exploitation of the poor to violence against the vulnerable—and highlights the disturbing reality that the wicked often prosper while the innocent suffer. His lament in [Job 24](/job/24 "Job 24 - Job's Lament on Injustice") is not merely a complaint but a profound wrestling with the very character of God in the face of inexplicable evil, a central theme that permeates his entire discourse and is particularly evident in his earlier challenge regarding the prosperity of the wicked in [Job 21:7](/job/21-7 "Job 21:7 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"). This verse, therefore, acts as a powerful rhetorical climax, laying bare the profound disconnect Job perceives between God's purported justice and the observable realities of the world.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in an ancient, likely patriarchal, period, though its precise historical dating remains a subject of scholarly debate. The "city" (עִיר, _'îyr_) in this context refers to a populated center, which, while a hub of commerce and administration, was also a place where social stratification and injustice were most starkly visible. In ancient Near Eastern societies, justice was typically administered by local elders or rulers at the city gate. However, the vulnerable—widows, orphans, sojourners, and the poor—were often susceptible to exploitation and lacked the means to secure justice. Job's observations reflect a harsh reality where the powerful could oppress the weak with little recourse from human authorities. His complaint extends beyond individual suffering to encompass systemic injustice, where the desperate cries of the wounded are ignored by those in power and, in Job's perplexing view, by God Himself. This highlights a universal human experience across cultures and times: the profound struggle to reconcile a belief in a just and sovereign God with the visible, unpunished presence of evil and suffering in the world.

* **Key Themes:** Job 24:12 contributes significantly to several overarching themes foundational to the Book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the **Problem of Suffering and Theodicy**, challenging the simplistic cause-and-effect theology espoused by Job's friends by presenting undeniable instances where the righteous suffer and the wicked thrive without immediate consequence. Secondly, it amplifies the **Cry of the Oppressed**, giving a visceral voice to the marginalized, the exploited, and the wounded, thereby emphasizing the pervasive nature of human misery and the desperate, often unheard, need for divine intervention. This theme resonates deeply with numerous biblical passages that highlight God's attentiveness to the cries of the poor and afflicted, such as the declaration in [Psalm 9:12](/psalms/9-12 "Psalm 9:12 - God Remembers the Afflicted") that God "forgets not the cry of the humble." Thirdly, and most critically, the verse grapples with **Divine Justice and Apparent Inaction**. Job's poignant statement, "yet God layeth not folly [to them]," encapsulates his profound struggle with God's perceived silence or non-intervention in the face of blatant injustice. This challenging perspective is central to the book's profound exploration of faith amidst mystery, where human understanding of divine governance is pushed to its limits.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Groan (Hebrew, _nâʼaq'_):** From H5008, this verb signifies a deep, involuntary sigh or groan, indicative of profound distress, pain, or oppression. It is not merely an audible sound but a visceral expression of inner anguish that is too deep for words, a reaction to overwhelming suffering. Its use here emphasizes the intensity and widespread nature of the pain experienced by those in the city, suggesting a collective lament.
* **Wounded (Hebrew, _châlâl'_):** From H2491, this noun refers to someone "pierced (especially to death)," "slain," or "deadly wounded." It denotes not just general suffering but specific, often violent, harm inflicted upon individuals. The "soul of the wounded" personalizes this suffering, indicating a deep, existential plea from those who have been physically or emotionally devastated, highlighting their vulnerability and desperate need for relief.
* **Folly (Hebrew, _tiphlâh'_):** From H8604, this noun refers to "frivolity," "senselessness," or "moral perversity." In the context of Job's argument, it refers to the wicked deeds and injustices committed by the oppressors. The phrase "God layeth not folly [to them]" is the interpretive crux, suggesting that God does not attribute or impute this "folly" (the wicked acts or the suffering it causes) to the perpetrators by immediately punishing them, nor does He dismiss the cries of the suffering as foolish or unwarranted. Job is lamenting God's apparent lack of immediate, visible response to the moral depravity and its devastating consequences.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Men groan from out of the city":** This clause starkly sets the scene, depicting widespread human suffering emanating from urban centers. The "groan" conveys deep anguish, representing not just individual pain but a collective lament of the oppressed and exploited. It implies that this suffering is pervasive, observable, and a stark reality that Job's friends, in their comfortable theological assumptions, seem to ignore. It is a cry of despair from those who are powerless.
* **"and the soul of the wounded crieth out":** This intensifies the previous statement, focusing on the specific, desperate appeals of those who have been physically or emotionally harmed. "The soul of the wounded" emphasizes the deep, personal, and existential nature of their pain, indicating that their very being is crying for relief. Their "cry" is a deliberate, desperate appeal for justice and deliverance, a direct challenge to the perceived silence of the heavens and the indifference of human authorities.
* **"yet God layeth not folly [to them].":** This is the pivotal and most challenging clause, representing the core of Job's theological struggle. Job's perplexing observation is that despite the evident suffering and the desperate cries of the afflicted, God does not seem to intervene or hold the perpetrators accountable for their "folly" (their wicked actions). The phrase can be interpreted as God not imputing the wickedness to the wicked (i.e., not punishing them immediately), or not considering the cries of the suffering to be foolish or unwarranted, even if He does not immediately respond. In Job's mind, it signifies God's apparent inaction or indifference in the face of profound injustice, which deeply troubles him and forms the core of his theological challenge to God's governance.

#### Literary Devices
Job 24:12 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and unsettling message. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, which creates a stark and painful contrast between the intense, audible suffering of humanity ("Men groan... and the soul of the wounded crieth out") and God's perceived non-intervention ("yet God layeth not folly [to them]"). This contrast generates a profound sense of **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for the afflicted and highlighting the emotional weight and urgency of their cries. The verse also functions as an implicit **Rhetorical Question**, as Job is not simply stating a fact but is profoundly questioning God's justice and sovereignty in the face of unpunished evil. The very act of stating this observation is an indictment, challenging the conventional wisdom and forcing a confrontation with the mystery of divine governance. Furthermore, the vivid imagery of "groans" and "cries" effectively employs **Auditory Imagery**, making the suffering palpable and immediate to the reader, drawing them into the raw reality of the oppressed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 24:12 stands as a profound expression of the human struggle with the problem of evil and divine justice. It articulates the universal cry of the oppressed, echoing through history and resonating with all who witness or experience injustice and wonder about God's presence and intervention. Job's lament challenges simplistic theological frameworks that neatly tie suffering to sin, forcing a deeper engagement with the mystery of God's ways and the complexity of His divine timetable. While Job perceives God as seemingly inactive in dispensing immediate justice, the broader biblical narrative consistently affirms God's ultimate justice and His profound attentiveness to the cries of the suffering, even if His timing and methods are not always immediately comprehensible to human understanding. This tension invites believers to trust in God's character even when circumstances are perplexing, while simultaneously calling them to actively participate in seeking justice and alleviating suffering as agents of His compassion in a broken world.

* [Exodus 3:7](/exodus/3-7 "Exodus 3:7 - God Hears Israel's Cry"): "And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows."
* [Psalm 73:3](/psalms/73-3 "Psalm 73:3 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"): "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine"): "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 24:12 compels us to confront the uncomfortable reality of suffering and injustice that permeates our world and to honestly wrestle with our perceptions of God's role within it. It profoundly validates the anguish of those who groan and cry out, reminding us that such pain is real, deeply personal, and often goes unaddressed by human systems or immediate divine intervention. For believers, this verse serves as a powerful call to empathy, urging us to not turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the "groans from out of the city" in our own communities and globally. While Job struggles with God's apparent non-intervention, the verse implicitly challenges us to consider our own responsibility as God's image-bearers. If God's ultimate justice is assured, how are we called to be His hands and feet in alleviating suffering, advocating for the oppressed, and speaking truth to power? This passage encourages us to cultivate a deep compassion for the marginalized, to actively work for justice, and to extend comfort to the afflicted, even when the path is difficult and the divine timetable seems delayed. It reminds us that our faith is not meant to be a comfortable escape from the world's pain, but a robust and active engagement with it, trusting that God sees, hears, and will ultimately act in His perfect time and way.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I personally reconcile the reality of widespread suffering and injustice with my understanding of God's character and sovereignty?**
* **In what specific ways do I "hear the groans from out of the city" in my own community or in the broader world today, and how do I respond?**
* **What practical actions can I take to be an agent of justice, comfort, or advocacy for the "wounded" whose cries may be unheard by others?**
* **How does Job's honest and raw lament encourage or challenge my own expressions of doubt, frustration, or questioning in my faith journey?**

### FAQ

**What does "yet God layeth not folly [to them]" truly mean in Job 24:12?**

Answer: This is the most challenging phrase in the verse, with several layers of interpretation, all reflecting Job's profound perplexity. The Hebrew word for "folly" (תִּפְלָה, _tiflah_) refers to moral depravity, wickedness, or senselessness. The phrase "layeth not folly [to them]" most commonly means that God does not attribute or impute this wickedness to the perpetrators by immediately punishing them, nor does He seem to take account of the "folly" of the suffering itself (i.e., the senselessness or injustice of the pain). In essence, Job is lamenting God's apparent lack of immediate, visible intervention or judgment against the wicked, despite the profound suffering they inflict. He is not saying God approves of the folly, but that God does not seem to "set it down" or "charge it" against them in a way that leads to swift justice, leaving the cries of the wounded unaddressed. This interpretation aligns with Job's overall argument that the wicked often prosper while the righteous suffer, a point he makes throughout his discourse, contrasting sharply with the traditional theology of his friends who believe in immediate divine retribution.

**Is Job accusing God of being unjust or indifferent in this verse?**

Answer: Job is not necessarily accusing God of being unjust in an ultimate sense, but he is certainly expressing his profound confusion, frustration, and even a sense of accusation regarding God's *apparent* inaction in the face of palpable injustice. He is wrestling with the *mystery* of God's governance, not denying God's existence or power. Job's lament is a desperate plea for understanding and a direct challenge to the conventional wisdom that God always punishes sin immediately. He observes a reality that contradicts the neat theological boxes his friends try to put God in, where suffering is always a direct result of sin. His struggle is deeply honest and reflects a crisis of faith that seeks to reconcile God's goodness and omnipotence with the harsh realities of a fallen world where evil often seems to go unpunished. This challenging perspective is part of the book's larger purpose: to explore the nature of faith when God's ways are inscrutable, as seen in passages like [Job 13:15](/job/13-15 "Job 13:15 - Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust Him") where Job declares his trust even in the face of death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 24:12, with its raw depiction of human suffering and the perplexing question of divine inaction in the face of injustice, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job grapples with a God who seemingly "layeth not folly" to the oppressors, the New Testament reveals a God who, in Christ, fully identifies with the groans of humanity, takes on the "folly" of sin, and ultimately establishes perfect justice. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), entered a world groaning under the weight of sin and injustice, experiencing suffering and oppression firsthand. He was the wounded one, whose "soul cried out" on the cross, not because of his own sin, but as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity. In Christ, God did not ignore the folly of sin; rather, He "made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Furthermore, Christ's resurrection and eventual return promise the definitive end of all groaning and crying out. He is the one who will ultimately "wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")). Thus, the apparent divine inaction that troubled Job is resolved in the active, redemptive, and future just intervention of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who not only hears the cries but has personally borne the suffering and will one day perfectly right all wrongs, demonstrating that God indeed lays folly to account, but in His perfect timing and through His perfect plan of salvation and final judgment.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 4:1

¶ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.

Psalms 69:26

For they persecute [him] whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

Isaiah 52:5

Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day [is] blasphemed.

Romans 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:5

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Psalms 12:5

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

Ecclesiastes 8:11

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.