Job 29:17

KJV

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I brake {H7665} the jaws {H4973} of the wicked {H5767}, and plucked {H7993} the spoil {H2964} out of his teeth {H8127}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and snatched the prey from his teeth.

Berean Standard Bible

I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

American Standard Version

And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 29:17 vividly portrays Job's former role as a righteous and authoritative figure who actively combated injustice. Through powerful, predatory imagery, Job recounts how he decisively intervened to disarm the wicked and reclaim what they had unjustly plundered, thereby restoring justice and protecting the vulnerable in his community. This verse stands as a poignant testament to his past integrity, influence, and unwavering commitment to upholding righteousness, sharply contrasting with his present suffering and perceived abandonment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 29:17 is situated within Job’s third and final monologue, which spans [Job 29-31](/job/29-31 "Job's Final Monologue"). This specific chapter, [Job 29](/job/29 "Job's Lament for His Former Glory"), serves as a deeply moving reminiscence of Job's past prosperity, honor, and profound influence, creating a stark contrast with his current state of suffering and isolation. Having patiently endured the accusations of his friends and the perplexing silence of God, Job now appeals directly to divine justice, meticulously recounting his blameless life and righteous deeds. Verses [Job 29:12-17](/job/29-12-17 "Job 29:12-17 - Job's Deeds of Righteousness") specifically detail his active benevolence, portraying him as a champion of the poor, the fatherless, the widow, the blind, and the lame. Within this sequence, verse 17 stands out as a powerful declaration of his decisive judicial action against oppressors, illustrating his commitment not just to charity but to active, confrontational justice, setting the stage for his subsequent oath of innocence in [Job 31](/job/31 "Job's Oath of Innocence").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the role of a community leader, patriarch, or elder often encompassed significant judicial responsibilities. Such esteemed figures were expected to arbitrate disputes, protect the weak, and ensure that justice prevailed, especially in societies where formal legal systems might be nascent, inaccessible, or non-existent for the common person. Job, as a man of immense wealth and standing in the land of Uz, would have naturally assumed such a prominent position. The vivid imagery of "breaking jaws" and "plucking spoil" resonates deeply with the harsh realities of a world where the strong often preyed on the weak, much like a predator seizing its defenseless prey. Job's actions reflect the ideal of a righteous leader who not only provided for the needy (as seen in [Job 29:15-16](/job/29-15-16 "Job 29:15-16 - Job as Protector of the Vulnerable")) but also actively dismantled the power of those who exploited others, embodying a societal expectation of justice that predates formal legal codes. This aligns with broader biblical principles found in texts like [Deuteronomy 16:18-20](/deuteronomy/16-18-20 "Deuteronomy 16:18-20 - Appointment of Judges and Officers") which emphasize the crucial importance of righteous judgment.

* **Key Themes:** Job 29:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the profound narrative of the book of Job. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Righteous Leadership and Justice**. Job presents himself not merely as a benevolent benefactor but as an active, courageous agent of justice, willing to confront and incapacitate the wicked. This highlights the biblical ideal of leaders who use their authority and influence to protect the vulnerable and uphold societal order, reflecting God's own character as a just judge. Secondly, the verse powerfully reinforces the theme of **Protection of the Vulnerable**. The "wicked" are those who exploit the defenseless, and Job's intervention directly addresses their predatory actions, aligning with the broader biblical mandate to care for the marginalized and voiceless ([Proverbs 31:8-9](/proverbs/31-8-9 "Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak Up for the Voiceless")). Lastly, it speaks to the pervasive theme of **Divine Justice and Human Suffering**. Job's recounting of his past righteous actions serves as a powerful, albeit implicit, argument against the perceived injustice of his current suffering, subtly implying that his blameless conduct should have merited continued divine favor, not affliction. His past role as a decisive dispenser of justice contrasts sharply with his present experience of what he perceives as divine injustice, setting up the central tension and theological dilemma of the entire book.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Brake (Hebrew, שָׁבַר, _shâbar'_):** From the primitive root H7665, meaning "to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), crush, destroy." This verb signifies a decisive, forceful, and often violent action that results in the complete destruction or incapacitation of something. In Job's context, it emphasizes his absolute power and effectiveness in dismantling the wicked's ability to inflict harm, not merely weakening them but rendering them utterly powerless.
* **Jaws (Hebrew, מַלְתְּעָה, _mᵉthallᵉʻâh'_):** From H4973, properly meaning "a biter, i.e. a tooth; cheek (jaw) tooth, jaw." This term specifically refers to the molars or jawbones, particularly those of a predatory animal. Its use here vividly evokes the image of a beast of prey using its powerful jaws to seize and tear apart its victim. By "breaking" these jaws, Job metaphorically describes rendering the oppressor unable to continue their predatory exploitation, signifying a complete and permanent incapacitation.
* **Spoil (Hebrew, טֶרֶף, _ṭereph'_):** From H2964, meaning "something torn, i.e. a fragment, prey, food; leaf, meat, prey, spoil." This term refers to "prey" or "plunder," often that which has been violently seized or torn by a wild animal. In this metaphorical sense, it represents the unjust gains, property, or dignity that the wicked had violently taken from the vulnerable. Job's action of "plucking the spoil" signifies the restoration of justice and the recovery of what was wrongfully taken, rescuing the victim from total devastation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I brake the jaws of the wicked":** This clause powerfully establishes Job's active and authoritative role as a dispenser of justice. The imagery is a vivid metaphor: just as one would break the jaws of a dangerous predator to prevent it from devouring its prey, Job decisively incapacitated the wicked. This implies a direct, forceful, and effective intervention that stripped oppressors of their power to exploit and harm the vulnerable. It speaks to Job's courage and his willingness to confront evil directly, rather than merely offering passive sympathy or charity.
* **"and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.":** This second clause complements the first, illustrating the immediate and tangible outcome of Job's decisive action. "Spoil" refers to the plunder or prey that the wicked had seized. By "plucking" it from their "teeth," Job demonstrates his success in rescuing the victims and recovering what was unjustly taken. This highlights his role not only in preventing further harm but also in actively restoring justice and restitution to those who had been wronged. It signifies a complete victory over the oppressor and a tangible deliverance for the oppressed, emphasizing the completeness of his intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Job 29:17 is rich in **Imagery** and **Metaphor**, drawing heavily on the animal kingdom to convey Job's decisive actions. The wicked are depicted as predatory beasts, specifically through the mention of "jaws" and "teeth," which are instruments of tearing and devouring. This **Zoomorphism** effectively communicates the destructive, violent, and exploitative nature of the oppressors, portraying them as dangerous predators. Job, in turn, is presented as a powerful, almost superhuman force capable of confronting and disarming these "beasts." The act of "breaking the jaws" is a vivid **Metaphor** for incapacitating the wicked, rendering them harmless and unable to continue their predatory behavior. Similarly, "plucking the spoil out of his teeth" is another powerful **Metaphor** for rescuing the victims and restoring what was unjustly taken. This imagery creates a strong visual and visceral impression, emphasizing both the severity of the injustice and the absolute effectiveness of Job's intervention. The language also contains an element of **Hyperbole**, as Job is not literally breaking jaws, but the exaggerated imagery underscores the absolute and decisive nature of his justice, magnifying his past authority and power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 29:17 powerfully illustrates a core biblical principle: the active pursuit of justice and the zealous protection of the vulnerable. Job's actions reflect God's own character as a righteous judge who defends the oppressed, hears the cry of the needy, and brings down the proud. Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent and unwavering call for leaders and individuals to embody this divine attribute, to speak for the voiceless, and to dismantle systems of exploitation and oppression. Job's lament here serves not only as a personal defense of his past integrity but also as a profound reminder of the ideal of righteous governance and compassionate engagement with a broken world—a standard against which he implicitly measures his own inexplicable suffering and God's perplexing silence.

* [Psalm 82:3-4](/psalm/82-3-4 "Psalm 82:3-4 - Defend the Poor and Needy")
* [Proverbs 31:8-9](/proverbs/31-8-9 "Proverbs 31:8-9 - Speak Up for the Voiceless")
* [Isaiah 1:17](/isaiah/1-17 "Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to Do Good, Seek Justice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's vivid recollection in Job 29:17 serves as a profound challenge for contemporary believers, calling us beyond passive empathy to active, courageous engagement in the pursuit of justice. While we may not literally "break jaws" or "pluck spoil" in the physical sense, the spirit of Job's action compels us to identify and dismantle the systems, attitudes, and behaviors that exploit, oppress, or marginalize others in our modern contexts. This might involve advocating for the poor and disenfranchised, supporting legal aid for the unjustly accused, speaking out against discrimination and systemic inequalities, or working tirelessly to reform societal structures that perpetuate injustice. Our faith is not merely about personal piety or individual spiritual disciplines, but about actively reflecting God's heart for justice in the world, courageously confronting those who prey upon the vulnerable, and seeking to restore dignity, equity, and flourishing where it has been stripped away.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, like Job, be called to "break the jaws of the wicked" in our contemporary society, metaphorically speaking, by challenging oppressive systems or behaviors?**
* **What "spoil" (e.g., dignity, resources, opportunities) might be currently held in the "teeth" of injustice in our communities, and how can we actively work to "pluck" it out for the benefit of the oppressed?**
* **How does Job's example challenge our understanding of what it means to be a person of faith actively engaged in the world, moving beyond personal spiritual disciplines to embody God's justice?**

### FAQ
**Was Job's action of "breaking jaws" literal or metaphorical?**

Answer: The imagery in Job 29:17, "And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth," is almost certainly metaphorical. It is a powerful and vivid way for Job to describe his decisive and effective judicial actions against oppressors. In the ancient Near East, a leader's role often included arbitrating disputes and protecting the vulnerable. Job is portraying himself as a strong, righteous judge who disarmed the wicked and rescued their victims, much like one would incapacitate a predatory animal to save its prey. This aligns with his other descriptions of being "eyes to the blind" and "feet to the lame" ([Job 29:15](/job/29-15 "Job 29:15 - Job's Compassionate Deeds")), which are also metaphorical expressions of his active benevolence and justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job's actions in [Job 29:17](/job/29-17 "Job 29:17 - Job's Righteous Judgment") represent the pinnacle of human righteousness and a profound commitment to justice, they ultimately foreshadow the perfect and ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ. Job, in his limited human capacity, could only break the jaws of individual wicked men and reclaim specific spoils. Christ, however, came to confront the ultimate oppressor—Satan—and to plunder his dominion over humanity. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He is not only the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), but also the Lion of Judah who decisively defeats the spiritual forces of wickedness that hold humanity captive. He rescues us from the "spoil" of sin and death, not merely restoring earthly possessions but granting eternal life and true freedom ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")). Thus, Job's righteous justice, impressive as it was, points to the far greater, redemptive justice of Christ, who delivers us from the very teeth of spiritual death and restores us to fellowship with God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God Demonstrates His Love")), offering a complete and eternal salvation that Job's temporary actions could only dimly reflect.

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

Psalms 3:7

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Proverbs 30:14

[There is] a generation, whose teeth [are as] swords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.

Psalms 58:8

As a snail [which] melteth, let [every one of them] pass away: [like] the untimely birth of a woman, [that] they may not see the sun.

Psalms 124:6

¶ Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath not given us [as] a prey to their teeth.

1 Samuel 17:35

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Psalms 124:3

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: