Job 21 16

Job 21:16 kjv

Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Job 21:16 nkjv

Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Job 21:16 niv

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

Job 21:16 esv

Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Job 21:16 nlt

(They think their prosperity is of their own doing,
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

Job 21 verses

Job 21 16 Meaning

Job 21:16 is a complex statement by Job that counters the rigid retribution theology of his friends while affirming his own righteous stance. The first part, "Lo, their good is not in their hand," acknowledges the observed prosperity of the wicked but asserts that this well-being is not a stable possession or achievement by their own might, but rather contingent and beyond their control. It challenges the idea that the wicked secure their prosperity through their own wisdom or power. The second part, "the counsel of the wicked is far from me," declares Job's explicit rejection and disassociation from the ideology, worldview, and actions of these wicked individuals. He observes their reality but vehemently refuses to adopt their principles or way of life, maintaining his integrity despite his challenging circumstances.

Job 21 16 Context

Job 21 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Job, representing Job's most direct and potent rebuttal to the theological arguments of his three friends. The friends consistently posit a simple, immediate cause-and-effect retribution theology: righteousness brings prosperity, and wickedness brings suffering. They believe Job's immense suffering must therefore be a direct consequence of some hidden sin. In this chapter, Job challenges their neat equation by observing a harsh reality: the wicked often prosper in life, live in ease, and even die peacefully (Job 21:7-13). Verse 16 serves as a crucial bridge within Job's argument. Following his description of the wicked's undisturbed success and their defiant dismissal of God (Job 21:14-15), Job articulates his theological caveat and personal separation. He recognizes their "good" is a fact, but not something they genuinely control or own, thus undermining his friends' logic about divine immediate rewards. Simultaneously, he clearly distinguishes his own values and path from theirs, reaffirming his faithfulness. This challenges the friends' notion that Job, by observing this truth, might implicitly approve of wickedness.

Job 21 16 Word analysis

• Lo (הֵן - hēn): This Hebrew interjection serves as an emphatic particle, akin to "behold" or "indeed." It draws attention to a statement that is unexpected or profoundly important. Here, it introduces Job's pointed observation that directly contradicts his friends' presumptions about the immediate consequences of wickedness.
• their good (טוֹבָם - ṭōvām): "Good" (טוֹב - ṭōv) refers to prosperity, well-being, or fortunate circumstances, rather than moral virtue. The possessive suffix "-ām" emphasizes that Job is speaking of the specific, tangible, earthly success and comfort experienced by the wicked he has just described.
• is not (לֹא - lō'): The standard Hebrew negative particle, signifying a direct and unequivocal denial. It negates the idea of inherent control or stable possession.
• in their hand (בְיָדָם - bĕyādām): The word "hand" (יָד - yad) frequently symbolizes power, control, agency, or possession in Hebrew thought. To say something is "not in their hand" implies a lack of mastery, security, or self-sufficiency. The wicked's prosperity is not fundamentally self-generated or within their complete, lasting dominion; it is contingent on an external, higher power (God's sovereignty). This challenges the anthropocentric view of self-made success.
• the counsel of (עֲצַת - ʿaṣat): "Counsel" (עֵצָה - ʿēṣāh) here means not merely advice, but the plans, intentions, lifestyle, worldview, or the very principle guiding the wicked's existence. It encapsulates their entire orientation away from God.
• the wicked (רְשָׁעִים - rĕshāʿîm): This term refers to those who are guilty, unrighteous, and estranged from God, specifically those who live in defiance of divine ways as Job has just detailed (e.g., Job 21:14-15).
• is far from me (רָחֲקָה מֶנִּי - rāḥaqāh mennî): This phrase indicates a definitive distancing, rejection, or abhorrence. Job is not just saying he doesn't personally follow their ways, but that their very "counsel" (their philosophy, their ungodly approach to life) is repugnant and alienated from his core being and beliefs. It reaffirms his personal integrity and allegiance to God despite his protest of divine inscrutability in the matter of suffering and prosperity.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Lo, their good is not in their hand": This phrase challenges the popular notion that material prosperity is solely a reward for merit or solely acquired by human strength. It suggests that even the prosperity of the wicked is ultimately held under God's sovereign control, granted or permitted by Him, and therefore, it is precarious and not eternally secure. It highlights the fleeting nature of worldly success apart from God's enduring blessing.
  • "the counsel of the wicked is far from me": This forms the ethical distinction. Despite acknowledging that the wicked do prosper in reality, Job makes a crucial and strong declaration that he absolutely disassociates himself from their lifestyle, values, and ungodly principles. He is not endorsing their ways or adopting their perspective; rather, he explicitly repudiates their entire worldview, asserting his unwavering commitment to righteous conduct and God-centered living, irrespective of personal suffering or the observed state of the wicked. This distinguishes him clearly from them and from the friends' accusation that he must be unrighteous.

Job 21 16 Bonus section

The passage Job 21:16 illustrates a key thematic tension throughout the Book of Job: the disjunction between apparent reality (wicked prosper) and conventional theology (wicked suffer). This challenges the direct, mechanistic application of "retribution theology" prevalent in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature and reflected by Job's friends. Job introduces a more nuanced understanding where God's ultimate justice does not always manifest in immediate temporal rewards or punishments, particularly in the observation of others. This "good" of the wicked, while seemingly in their favor, is precarious and often described elsewhere in scripture as leading to their destruction (Ps 73:17-20). The strength of Job's statement lies not only in his observation but in his explicit ethical response to it, preventing his intellectual honesty from being misconstrued as moral compromise. His declaration of separation ("far from me") acts as a profound testament to his integrity and steadfastness, confirming that his challenge to the friends' theology is born from intellectual and spiritual integrity, not from bitterness or a leaning towards godlessness.

Job 21 16 Commentary

Job 21:16 encapsulates a profound theological insight from Job that directly confronts the simplistic theology of his friends while solidifying his own moral position. Job first articulates an observable truth often overlooked by his companions: the wicked often experience prosperity in this life. Yet, he immediately qualifies this observation by asserting that this "good" is not a product of their own enduring control or wisdom; it is transient and ultimately rests in God's hands. This underscores God's sovereignty even over those who defy Him, permitting them temporary success for His own inscrutable purposes. More importantly for Job's character, the verse includes his vehement rejection of the wicked's "counsel" or worldview. This ensures his honesty in reporting life's paradoxes does not imply endorsement of unrighteousness. He clearly states that while he observes their apparent success, he has no desire to emulate their godless path or adopt their values. Job's integrity shines through as he remains firm in his commitment to righteousness, even when the immediate earthly rewards do not align with his actions. This verse clarifies that Job is not railing against God's justice per se, but against the friends' misinterpretation of it, and maintains his righteous stance in the face of paradox.