Job 21:14 kjv
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Job 21:14 nkjv
Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.
Job 21:14 niv
Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.
Job 21:14 esv
They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
Job 21:14 nlt
And yet they say to God, 'Go away.
We want no part of you and your ways.
Job 21 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 10:4 | The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek God... | The proud reject God. |
| Psa 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." | Denial of God's existence/relevance. |
| Psa 36:3-4 | He has ceased to act wisely and do good; he plots evil... | Reject wisdom, embrace wickedness. |
| Psa 50:16-17 | "But to the wicked God says: ... you hate instruction and cast my words behind you." | Rejection of God's law and instruction. |
| Psa 73:11-12 | They say, "How does God know? ... Behold, these are the wicked... always at ease, they increase in riches." | Wicked question God's knowledge, yet prosper. |
| Psa 78:10-11 | They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk in His law... they forgot His works... | Rejection of covenant and God's deeds. |
| Prov 1:29-30 | Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord... | Despise knowledge, reject God's authority. |
| Prov 28:9 | If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. | Refusing to hear God's law. |
| Isa 1:3 | "Israel does not know, My people do not consider." | Lack of recognition and understanding of God. |
| Isa 5:12 | They do not regard the deeds of the Lord, nor consider the work of His hands. | Disregard for God's actions and power. |
| Jer 2:31 | "...have we wronged you? ... We will come no more to you." | Rejection of dependence on God. |
| Jer 5:4-5 | "Then I said, 'These are only the poor; they are foolish; for they do not know the way of the Lord...'" | Ignorance of God's path among the simple. |
| Hos 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." | Consequences of lacking knowledge of God. |
| Jno 3:19-20 | "...men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." | Preferring evil over divine truth. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him... but exchanged the truth... | Suppressing truth, rejecting God. |
| Rom 2:8 | "...for those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness..." | Disobedience to truth due to self-will. |
| 2 Tim 3:7 | "...always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." | Continual pursuit of knowledge without true understanding. |
| Lk 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool, who plans without God... | Self-sufficiency without acknowledging God. |
| Deut 32:15 | "...he grew fat, grew thick, grew sleek, then he forsook God..." | Prosperity leading to forsaking God. |
| Jer 22:21 | "I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, 'I will not listen.'" | Rejection of God's voice in success. |
| 2 Chron 33:10 | The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. | Disregard for divine warning/instruction. |
| Exod 5:2 | But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice? I do not know the Lord..." | A ruler's direct rejection of God's authority. |
Job 21 verses
Job 21 14 Meaning
Job 21:14 describes a core characteristic of the wicked, who, despite their often outward prosperity, express an active and audacious rejection of God. They explicitly command God to leave them alone, signifying their desire for complete autonomy. Their disdain extends to not wanting any experiential understanding or guidance concerning God's moral principles, divine governance, or the path He ordains. This reflects a deep-seated spiritual rebellion, valuing self-will over divine wisdom and preferring independence from God's influence.
Job 21 14 Context
Job 21:14 is part of Job’s third and final response to his friends' rigid assertions (chapters 21-26). Up to this point, his friends have consistently argued for a simplistic retribution theology: the righteous prosper, and the wicked always suffer openly and consistently. In chapter 21, Job presents a strong counter-argument, asserting that wicked people often do prosper in this life, live comfortably, and die peacefully, without apparent immediate judgment. Verse 14 depicts the internal disposition of these prosperous wicked individuals—their overt and active rebellion against God. Job highlights that their outward success does not lead to humility or piety, but instead fosters a bold defiance and rejection of God’s rightful place in their lives. He is polemically challenging his friends' narrow theological framework, suggesting that God's ways are more complex and His justice not always immediately apparent or understood through superficial observation.
Job 21 14 Word analysis
Yet: Introduces a stark contrast to the expectations of Job's friends regarding the wicked.
they say: Indicates an active, conscious, and verbal declaration, not passive ignorance or quiet neglect. It is an open expression of defiance.
to God: Implies a direct address, facing God in their arrogance. In Hebrew, אֶל־אֵ֤ל (
'el 'el), pointing towards God. The termEl(אֵל) refers to God in a general sense, highlighting His sovereignty and power, which they dare to defy.Depart from us!: Hebrew סוּר־מִמֶּ֥נּוּ (
sur mimmennu).Surmeans to turn aside, remove, depart. It's a command, a rude and assertive dismissal, rather than a plea or request. It expresses a desire for God's complete absence from their lives, implying self-sufficiency and moral autonomy.We do not desire: Hebrew וְדַ֗עַת דְּרָכֶ֥יךָ לֹֽא־חָפָֽצְנוּ (
ve·da'at derakheykha lo chapatznu). Thelo(לֹֽא) beforechapatznu(חָפַצְנוּ - desired, delighted in) makes it a strong negation: "we have no desire for." It's a clear statement of antipathy.the knowledge: Hebrew דַּ֗עַת (
da'at). This is not mere intellectual acquaintance but signifies experiential knowledge, intimate acquaintance, and understanding that leads to moral obedience and relational awareness. They don't want to know God in a way that would require a change in their lives.of Your ways: Hebrew דְּרָכֶ֥יךָ (
derakheykha). Refers to God's character, His moral laws, His judgments, His wisdom, His governance, and the paths of life He prescribes for humanity. They reject God's entire moral and providential order, seeking to establish their own.Words-Group Analysis:
- "Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us!'": This phrase powerfully captures the open rebellion and defiance of the wicked. It’s an act of pushing God away, a direct affront to His sovereignty. Their prosperity has fostered not gratitude, but rather boldness in rejecting divine authority.
- "We do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.": This complements the first part, specifying what they reject. It's not just God's presence, but His moral guidance and His very nature as the one who orders existence. They explicitly reject experiential knowing and living according to God's truth, preferring to be governed by their own desires.
Job 21 14 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces the concept that earthly prosperity, far from guaranteeing a pious life, can actually harden the heart and embolden rebellion against God. It predates many New Testament warnings about the dangers of wealth leading people away from God (e.g., the rich young ruler, the deceitfulness of riches). It also underlines a key theological tension: God's patience often allows the wicked to prosper for a time, leading them to falsely conclude that God is either indifferent, weak, or does not exist, thus further fueling their rejection. The verse emphasizes that true wickedness is often a matter of the heart's disposition towards God, a profound antipathy towards His rightful place and authority.
Job 21 14 Commentary
Job 21:14 unveils the spiritual essence of a particular type of wickedness, as observed by Job: those who seemingly prosper materially, yet harbor a profound, active, and vocal animosity towards God. This verse exposes not merely an ignorance of God, but a willful, declared defiance. "Depart from us!" is a startlingly arrogant demand, illustrating a desire for absolute independence and freedom from any divine oversight or accountability. This rejection of God is intrinsically linked to their refusal to desire "the knowledge of Your ways." Their contentment in self-sufficient living makes God's moral framework and wisdom seem irrelevant, or even an obstacle to their chosen lifestyle. They seek to live without the "burden" of divine guidance, preferring their own path and their own perceived wisdom. Job argues that such spiritual rebellion is a deeper problem than the simplistic suffering/prosperity formula his friends champion. It highlights the often hidden, yet ultimate, form of evil—a heart utterly unwilling to submit to its Creator, despite outward appearances.