Job 11 14

Job 11:14 kjv

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Job 11:14 nkjv

If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

Job 11:14 niv

if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

Job 11:14 esv

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.

Job 11:14 nlt

Get rid of your sins,
and leave all iniquity behind you.

Job 11 verses

Job 11 14 Meaning

Job 11:14, spoken by Zophar, encapsulates a conventional belief that for prosperity and peace to return, one must entirely cleanse themselves of all wrongdoing. It urges Job to remove any sin or injustice from his life and dwelling, implying that his suffering is a direct consequence of unconfessed or hidden iniquity. The verse emphasizes a complete separation from moral evil and crookedness within one's sphere of influence and personal life.

Job 11 14 Context

Job 11:14 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's first speech in the book of Job (Job 11:1-20). Zophar represents the most rigid and dogmatic of Job's three friends. He claims to have insight into divine wisdom, asserting that Job's suffering is irrefutable proof of his secret sin, which he believes God is justly punishing less severely than Job deserves (11:6). Zophar demands immediate and complete repentance from Job as the sole path to restoration and prosperity, failing to acknowledge Job's integrity or the mysterious nature of his suffering. His counsel, though containing general truths about sin and its removal, is misapplied to Job's unique situation, showing a simplistic understanding of divine justice that cannot encompass all of God's ways or the complexity of human experience.

Job 11 14 Word analysis

• If (אִם־ - 'im): This introduces a conditional clause. In Zophar's speech, it presents a challenge or a premise that, in his view, clearly applies to Job. It's not a question but an implication that sin is indeed present.
• iniquity (אָוֶן - 'āwen): This Hebrew term signifies active wrongdoing, mischief, moral evil, wickedness, trouble, or sorrow resulting from sin. It denotes perversion or distortion of what is right, often linked to harm or falsehood. Its presence "in your hand" suggests an active role or possession of this evil. This word is sometimes associated with idolatry and false worship.
• is in your hand (בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ - b'yādekā): Literally "in your hand." This idiom signifies having something within one's control, possession, or capability. It implies not just the presence of iniquity, but an active involvement or responsibility for it, possibly implying it is habitually practiced or hidden. It indicates that the individual has power over the sin to remove it.
• put it far away (הַרְחִיקֵ֥הוּ - harḥîqēhû): This is an imperative verb, "to put far, to remove, to banish, to distance." The Hiphil stem denotes a causative action—to cause something to be far away. It demands a complete and decisive separation from the sin, a radical detachment. It's not just ceasing the act, but eradicating its presence from one's life.
• and let no (אַל־ - 'al): A prohibitive particle, conveying a strong negative command or warning, "do not," "let not." It underlines the absolute necessity of preventing the action or condition from occurring.
• injustice (עַוְלָ֗ה - 'awlāh): This Hebrew term means perversity, unrighteousness, injustice, or wickedness. It refers to a moral deviation, something crooked or contrary to straightness and truth. While similar to 'āwen, 'awlāh specifically emphasizes the deviation from justice and equity, highlighting moral crookedness. It signifies actions that are inherently wrong or unjust in God's eyes.
• dwell (תַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן - tashkēn): From the verb "shākhan," meaning "to settle down, to dwell, to reside." The Hiphil imperfect form expresses a command: "do not let dwell" or "do not cause to dwell." This implies preventing sin from establishing a presence, whether in a private sphere or publicly. It is about actively not permitting it to be housed.
• in your tents (בְּאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃ - b'ōhālekā): "Tents" here refer metaphorically to one's dwelling place, home, household, or broadly, one's entire life and sphere of influence. It extends the command from personal actions to the whole domestic and relational environment. It implies not just personal purity but a pure home life, suggesting no tolerance for iniquity or injustice within one's family, property, or reputation.

Job 11 14 Bonus section

The intensity of Zophar's demand to "put it far away" (harḥîqēhû) suggests an understanding that sin, once present, must be forcefully ejected rather than merely reduced or tolerated. This absolute removal extends beyond mere cessation of an act; it implies a deep commitment to eradicate its influence and lingering effects from one's life and environment. The reference to "tents" ('ōhālekā) not only implies the physical dwelling but also encompasses one's lineage and posterity. This extends the scope of the call to purity to impact future generations, indicating that unrighteousness can pollute the family line, while its removal can ensure blessings for descendants. Zophar, like the other friends, operates under a retribution theology that views sin and suffering, as well as righteousness and prosperity, in a direct cause-and-effect relationship, failing to account for trials that strengthen faith or test integrity, as exemplified by Job.

Job 11 14 Commentary

Zophar's exhortation in Job 11:14 presents a universal truth often found in Scripture: a call to turn from wickedness and live righteously. He commands Job to remove any active wrongdoing ('āwen) from his sphere of influence ("in your hand") and to prevent any pervasive moral perversity ('awlāh) from settling in his home or life ("in your tents"). This counsel generally aligns with God's demand for holiness and repentance as prerequisites for blessing and fellowship. However, the profound tragedy of Zophar's words lies in their specific application to Job. He simplistically assumes that Job's profound suffering is solely the direct result of hidden, unconfessed sin, a conclusion the book of Job will ultimately disprove. Zophar's 'truth' is therefore tragically misapplied, reflecting a limited theology of suffering that struggles to account for righteous suffering or the deeper mysteries of God's ways. Nevertheless, the verse itself remains a timeless call to radical personal and familial purification from all forms of unrighteousness for those seeking peace and blessing from God. For example, if someone recognizes dishonest gain (iniquity in hand), they must return it and cease the practice. If a family practices deceit (injustice dwelling in tents), they must collectively abandon such ways for their home to be truly blessed.