Job 27:9

KJV

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

KJV (with Strong's)

Will God {H410} hear {H8085} his cry {H6818} when trouble {H6869} cometh {H935} upon him?

Complete Jewish Bible

Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?

Berean Standard Bible

Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

American Standard Version

Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 27:9 poses a profound rhetorical question from Job: "Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?" This verse is embedded within Job's final, extended discourse, serving as a powerful assertion against the simplistic theology of his friends. Job challenges the notion that God indiscriminately responds to every plea for help, particularly implying that the desperate cries of the wicked or hypocritical, uttered only when divine judgment or the inevitable consequences of their actions are upon them, will not be met with a favorable or saving divine response. It underscores God's discernment and the futility of insincere appeals.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 27:9 is situated within Job's final, lengthy monologue (chapters 27-31), a sustained and passionate defense of his integrity and a sophisticated critique of his friends' rigid theological framework. In the verses immediately preceding this one, Job emphatically swears by God that he will maintain his righteousness until death, refusing to speak falsehoods or compromise his conscience, even in the face of immense suffering ([Job 27:1-6](/job/27-1-6 "Job's Oath of Integrity")). Having firmly established his own unwavering commitment to God, Job then shifts his focus to contrast his steadfastness with the ultimate fate of the wicked. This particular verse, "Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?", serves as a rhetorical challenge to the assumption that the wicked, who have lived in rebellion or hypocrisy, can simply cry out to God in their moment of crisis and expect divine intervention. It directly follows and expands upon the idea of "the hope of the hypocrite" perishing ([Job 27:8](/job/27-8 "The Hypocrite's Perishing Hope")), setting the stage for Job's detailed description of the wicked's miserable end in the subsequent verses of the chapter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in a patriarchal society, likely in the land of Uz, reflecting an ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice, often characterized by a "retribution theology." This prevailing belief system held that righteousness would be immediately and visibly rewarded with prosperity, while wickedness would inevitably lead to suffering and calamity. Job's friends rigidly adhere to this view, using Job's suffering as irrefutable proof of his hidden sin. However, Job's experience fundamentally challenges this simplistic framework. In this cultural milieu, a cry to the gods was a common practice in times of distress, but there was also an understanding that the gods might not listen to everyone. Job's question taps into this nuanced understanding, asserting that God, unlike human judges who might be swayed by desperate pleas, possesses perfect discernment. He will not be manipulated by insincere cries from those who have rejected Him in their lives, especially when trouble is a direct consequence of their unrighteousness.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. It highlights **the nature of prayer and divine hearing**, emphasizing that God's attentiveness to prayer is not indiscriminate but is deeply connected to the heart and character of the one praying. It implies that a cry born solely of desperation in the face of judgment, rather than genuine repentance or a life of integrity, will not be favorably heard. This contrasts sharply with the Lord's attentiveness to the cries of the righteous, as seen in [Psalm 34:17](/psalm/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Lord hears the righteous"). The verse also underscores **divine justice and discernment**, affirming God's perfect knowledge of the human heart and His ability to differentiate between superficial pleas and sincere devotion. God is not deceived by outward shows of piety or cries of distress from those who have lived in rebellion or hypocrisy, as [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - The Lord looks at the heart") reminds us. Finally, it powerfully illustrates **the futility of hypocrisy**, reinforcing the idea that a superficial or feigned relationship with God offers no true refuge when trouble inevitably comes, and that the hope of the wicked or hypocrite will ultimately perish, as Job declares in [Job 27:8](/job/27-8 "Job 27:8 - The Hypocrite's Perishing Hope").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼêl'_):** This term refers to the Almighty, the supreme deity, often emphasizing His power and might. In this rhetorical question, Job is not questioning God's *ability* to hear, but His *willingness* to respond favorably to a specific type of cry, appealing to God's inherent nature as a discerning and just sovereign.
* **Hear (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** More than merely perceiving sound, _shâmaʻ_ implies an attentive, responsive hearing that often leads to action, obedience, or favorable consideration. In this context, the rhetorical question "Will God hear...?" implies a negative answer regarding God's willingness to intervene or deliver, rather than His physical capacity to detect sound. It speaks to divine discernment and the conditions under which God responds to human pleas, suggesting a lack of favorable response.
* **Cry (Hebrew, _tsaʻăqâh'_):** This word denotes a shriek or an outcry, typically a desperate plea for help uttered in distress, affliction, or a state of judgment. It is not necessarily a prayer of worship or devotion, but a spontaneous, urgent appeal born out of dire circumstances. Job's use of this word suggests a cry of self-preservation rather than genuine repentance or a turning to God in faith.
* **Trouble (Hebrew, _tsârâh'_):** This term signifies tightness, distress, adversity, affliction, or calamity. In the context of the wicked, "trouble cometh upon him" often implies the inevitable consequences of their actions, divine judgment, or the natural outworking of their unrighteousness. The cry is made *when* this trouble has already arrived, highlighting a reactive, desperate appeal rather than a proactive, sincere seeking of God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Will God hear his cry":** This opening clause establishes the rhetorical question, designed to elicit a negative answer. It challenges the simplistic assumption that God is obligated to respond to any cry for help, regardless of the character of the individual or the circumstances of their plea. Job is asserting that God's hearing is selective and discerning, based on the heart and life of the one crying out. It implies that the cry of the unrighteous, especially when born of desperation in judgment, will not elicit a favorable divine response because it lacks sincerity and a foundation of genuine relationship.
* **"when trouble cometh upon him?":** This specifying clause defines the critical context of the "cry." The "him" refers to the wicked or hypocritical person whose hope perishes (as per [Job 27:8](/job/27-8 "Job 27:8 - The Hypocrite's Perishing Hope")). The "trouble" is the inevitable consequence, calamity, or divine judgment that justly befalls them. The question suggests that when the wicked are finally confronted with the repercussions of their actions, their desperate cries for deliverance will be futile because their relationship with God was never genuine or was actively hostile. Their plea is not one of repentance but of self-preservation in the face of deserved judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Job 27:9 is the **Rhetorical Question**. Job poses a question not to elicit information, but to make a forceful assertion, expecting a negative answer. This technique emphasizes his conviction that God will not favorably respond to the desperate cries of the wicked or hypocritical when they are finally confronted with the consequences of their unrighteousness. There is also an element of **Irony** at play. Job's friends consistently argue that God only brings trouble upon the wicked and always hears the righteous. Here, Job uses their own theological framework, but applies it to the wicked, implicitly showing that their cries for help will be ignored, thus reinforcing the idea of divine justice, even as he simultaneously challenges their simplistic application of it to his own suffering. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between the unheard cry of the wicked and the (implied) heard cry of the righteous, underscoring the importance of genuine faith and integrity before God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 27:9 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God's justice, His discernment, and the conditions of acceptable prayer. It challenges the transactional view of prayer, where a cry in distress automatically guarantees divine intervention, regardless of one's character or prior relationship with God. Instead, it underscores that God is not a cosmic vending machine or a last resort for those who have ignored Him. He is righteous and discerning, looking beyond mere words to the heart and life of the individual. For those who live in hypocrisy or rebellion, their desperate cries when judgment or natural consequences arrive will not be met with a favorable response, because their relationship with Him is not genuine. This verse serves as a sobering reminder that true hope and refuge are found only in a sincere, ongoing relationship with the Almighty, built on integrity and genuine devotion.

* [Proverbs 1:28](/proverbs/1-28 "Proverbs 1:28 - When they call, I will not answer")
* [Isaiah 1:15](/isaiah/1-15 "Isaiah 1:15 - When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes")
* [Psalm 66:18](/psalm/66-18 "Psalm 66:18 - If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 27:9 compels us to deeply examine the sincerity of our faith and the authenticity of our relationship with God. It challenges us to consider whether our prayers are rooted in genuine devotion, a desire for righteousness, and an ongoing walk with God, or if they are merely desperate pleas uttered only when we face the consequences of our actions or when life's troubles overwhelm us. This verse reminds us that God desires a relationship of integrity, not one of convenience or manipulation. Living a life of genuine faith, marked by obedience and a sincere heart, is paramount, for it is this foundation that provides true confidence that our cries will be heard and responded to by a loving and just God. It is a call to cultivate a consistent, heartfelt walk with God, ensuring that our prayers are an overflow of a life lived in His presence, not just a reactive measure in times of crisis.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Am I seeking God genuinely in my prayers, or only when trouble comes upon me?**
* **Does my daily life reflect integrity and a true relationship with God, or is there an element of hypocrisy in my faith?**
* **How does understanding God's discernment in hearing prayer shape my approach to Him and my commitment to righteous living?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean God never hears the prayers of those who have sinned or are in trouble?**

Answer: No, Job 27:9 does not mean that God *never* hears the prayers of those who have sinned or are in trouble. Rather, it speaks to the *nature* of the cry and the *heart condition* of the one crying out. The "him" in this verse refers to the hypocrite or the wicked person whose hope perishes ([Job 27:8](/job/27-8 "Job 27:8 - The Hypocrite's Perishing Hope")). Job's rhetorical question implies that God will not favorably respond to a cry that is born purely out of self-preservation in the face of deserved judgment, especially from someone who has lived a life of rebellion or pretense.

The Bible is replete with examples of God hearing and responding to the cries of sinners who genuinely repent ([Psalm 51:17](/psalm/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A broken and contrite heart God will not despise")). The Prodigal Son's father heard his cry of repentance and welcomed him ([Luke 15:20](/luke/15-20 "Luke 15:20 - The Prodigal Son's Return")). God's mercy is vast, and He is always ready to hear a humble and contrite heart. However, Job 27:9 serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and hypocrisy, reminding us that God discerns the true motives of the heart. He will not be manipulated by desperate pleas from those who have no genuine desire for Him, but only for escape from consequences.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 27:9, with its rhetorical question about God hearing the cry of the wicked in trouble, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the verse highlights God's discernment in not hearing the insincere cries of the unrighteous, it implicitly points to the one whose cry God *always* hears: His perfectly righteous Son. On the cross, Jesus, who "knew no sin, became sin for us" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2-corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - He who knew no sin became sin for us")), cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). This was the ultimate "trouble" coming upon Him, not for His own sin, but as He bore the full weight of the world's sin and experienced separation from the Father. Yet, His cry, as the perfectly righteous one, was heard not in deliverance from death, but in resurrection and ultimate vindication, securing salvation for all who believe. Through Christ, the "trouble" that would justly come upon us, the unrighteous, was absorbed by Him. Now, for those who are "in Christ," our cries are heard not on the basis of our own imperfect righteousness, but on the perfect, imputed righteousness of Jesus ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ intercedes for us")). He is our great High Priest who "always lives to intercede" for us ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus, our Intercessor")), ensuring that our prayers, offered in faith and aligned with God's will, are always heard and answered, even when we are in trouble.

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

Jeremiah 14:12

When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Proverbs 1:28

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Micah 3:4

Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Psalms 18:41

They cried, but [there was] none to save [them: even] unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

Job 35:12

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

Job 35:13

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.