Job 24 1

Job 24:1 kjv

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

Job 24:1 nkjv

"Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?

Job 24:1 niv

"Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?

Job 24:1 esv

"Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?

Job 24:1 nlt

"Why doesn't the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment?
Why must the godly wait for him in vain?

Job 24 verses

Job 24 1 Meaning

Job chapter 24, verse 1 begins Job’s third and final discourse by posing a profound rhetorical question. He wonders aloud why the Almighty God, from whom no period of time is concealed, does not publicly appoint or make manifest days of judgment, allowing those who supposedly "know Him" to clearly perceive or witness His acts of retribution against the wicked. This expresses Job's bewilderment at the apparent delay or absence of divine justice on Earth, a central struggle for him throughout the book.

Job 24 1 Context

Job 24:1 introduces Job's final major speech, where he articulates his struggle with God's seemingly inactive justice. Following his friends' continued insistence on the retribution principle (that suffering equals sin, and prosperity equals righteousness), Job responds by painting a vivid picture of the widespread suffering of the poor and the flourishing of the wicked (vv. 2-17). He describes various atrocities—theft, land grabbing, exploitation, murder, and adultery—all seemingly unpunished by divine hand.

This verse challenges the friends' premise that God intervenes promptly and visibly in the affairs of humans. Job's question ("Why...?") highlights his theological perplexity: If God is omniscient and omnipotent (implied by "Almighty" and "not hidden"), why is His judgment not evident? This immediate context shows Job grappling with empirical observations that contradict conventional wisdom and the theology his friends espouse, questioning divine timing and method rather than God's inherent justice.

Historically and culturally, the ancient Near East had a strong belief in divine oversight and justice. Kings were seen as enforcing cosmic order. Wisdom literature, like the book of Job, grappled with the apparent discrepancies between this ideal and reality, making Job's lament a profound contribution to the understanding of the nature of divine justice.

Job 24 1 Word analysis

• Why: Hebrew מַדּוּעַ (madduaʿ), a particle for "why, wherefore." This immediately sets the tone as a protest or a questioning lament from Job, indicating deep perplexity and challenging the status quo. It is not an attack on God's nature but a struggle with God's perceived actions or inaction.
• seeing: The ESV "Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty?" or KJV "Why, seeing times are not hidden..." This serves as an introductory clause. Job acknowledges a fundamental truth: God knows all. The Hebrew syntax is more like "Why from the Almighty are not hidden times..." emphasizing God's total awareness.
• times: Hebrew עִתִּים ('ittîm), the plural of עֵת ('et), meaning "time," "season," "appointed time," or "opportune moment." Here, it specifically refers to periods or occasions appointed for divine judgment, intervention, or reckoning. It speaks to God's precise and deliberate scheduling. Job wonders why these 'times' for judgment aren't apparent or made manifest.
• not hidden: Hebrew לֹא-נִסְתְּרוּ (lo-nisteru), the negation of the Niphal perfect plural of סתר (sātar), "to hide, conceal." This strongly affirms God's omniscience. There is nothing unknown to God; He has perfect knowledge of all things, including the appointed times for justice. Job is not questioning God's knowledge but rather the display of that knowledge in action.
• from the Almighty: Hebrew מִשַּׁדַּי (mi-shadday). This uses the divine name "Shaddai," often translated "Almighty" or "God All-Sufficient." This name emphasizes God's power, majesty, and capacity to execute judgment and provide for His people. Job's use of this name intensifies his question: why does the All-Powerful God not visibly act despite His perfect knowledge?
• do they that know him: Hebrew יֹדְעָיו (yod‘āw), literally "his knowers" or "those knowing him." This refers to people, especially those who might profess knowledge of God or who ought to understand divine principles—like Job’s friends and perhaps even humanity in general. The irony is poignant: if God is clear about justice, why don't even those who claim to understand God's ways grasp His timing or methods?
• not see: Hebrew לֹא-יֶחֱזוּ (lo-yechezu), negation of the Qal imperfect plural of חזה (chāzâ), meaning "to see," "to behold," "to perceive," or "to discern" (often in a visionary or prophetic sense). This is not about physical blindness, but about the inability to discern or witness God's clear actions of judgment. Job laments that these divine acts are not outwardly observable or comprehensible to humankind.
• his days: Hebrew יָמָיו (yāmāw), literally "his days." This is a metonymy for the days of God's appointed judgment, intervention, or the demonstration of His justice. Job longs for a clear revelation of when God will act decisively to right the wrongs of the world.

Words-group analysis:

• "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty...": This phrase juxtaposes God's perfect knowledge (times are not hidden) and immense power (from the Almighty) with the perplexing absence of clear, public divine intervention. Job's question arises from this tension between what God is known to be (omniscient, omnipotent) and what appears to be happening in the world (wickedness flourishing without obvious consequence).
• "...do they that know him not see his days?": This second part sharpens the challenge. It suggests a deficiency in human perception or a lack of divine revelation. If God truly is just and knowledgeable, why does He not make His "days" (of judgment/reckoning) clearly visible and understandable to "those who know Him," thus providing vindication for the righteous and clarity for humanity?

Job 24 1 Bonus section

• Job’s complaint here is not unlike the laments found in many Psalms (e.g., Psalm 73) and prophetical books, reflecting a recurring theological tension experienced by God's people throughout history.
• The phrase "his days" suggests God's divinely appointed occasions, reinforcing the idea of a specific, known timeline in God's mind, yet unseen by man. This concept is explored further in New Testament teachings on "the Day of the Lord" or "the appointed day" of judgment.
• Job's questioning is a form of protest lament, which is a legitimate part of biblical prayer and discourse. It highlights faith struggling with harsh reality, rather than a denial of faith.
• This verse indirectly critiques the friends' static understanding of divine retribution; they assume that if punishment is not immediately seen, it implies the individual is righteous, or conversely, that suffering must be due to sin. Job shows this simple formula fails the test of empirical observation.

Job 24 1 Commentary

Job 24:1 encapsulates Job’s profound wrestling with the problem of evil and divine justice, challenging the simplistic theology of his friends. He acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and knowledge—nothing is hidden from the Almighty. Yet, he is bewildered by the lack of clear, discernible action on God's part in meting out justice in the world. Job is not denying God's existence or power, nor even His eventual justice. Rather, he questions the timing and visibility of this justice. His anguish stems from the apparent impunity of the wicked and the continued suffering of the innocent. This verse sets the stage for Job’s subsequent detailed observations in chapter 24, where he vividly describes various societal injustices and the prevailing moral chaos, amplifying his question of "why" divine judgment remains seemingly unseen. This lament echoes throughout Scripture, finding resolution in the New Testament's revelation of a future, decisive judgment day and God's sovereign patience preceding it.