Job 24 10

Job 24:10 kjv

They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

Job 24:10 nkjv

They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing; And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.

Job 24:10 niv

Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.

Job 24:10 esv

They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;

Job 24:10 nlt

The poor must go about naked, without any clothing.
They harvest food for others while they themselves are starving.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 10 Meaning

Job 24:10 starkly portrays the severe destitution and exploitation faced by the working poor. Despite engaging in arduous agricultural labor, specifically harvesting grain (carrying sheaves), they remain without the most basic necessities: clothing for protection and warmth, and food to quell their hunger. The verse highlights a profound injustice where immense effort yields no personal benefit, underscoring the cruelty of those who oppress them by denying them even the fruit of their own toil.

Job 24 10 Context

Job 24:10 is part of Job's ongoing lament (Job 24-27) in which he directly challenges the conventional theological framework proposed by his friends, particularly the idea of immediate, observable justice where the righteous are rewarded and the wicked punished. In this chapter, Job describes in detail the pervasive and tangible injustices perpetrated by wicked men who act with impunity (Job 24:1-12). He portrays a world where the poor are utterly neglected and exploited, stripped of their dignity, livelihood, and even basic survival. Verse 10 specifically exemplifies this societal breakdown, highlighting how those who labor intensely for the very means of sustenance (harvesting) are denied its fruit, epitomizing the profound paradox and moral outrage that Job sees plaguing humanity.

Job 24 10 Word analysis

• They go about naked (`arowm`, עָרוֹם): This Hebrew term signifies being stripped or bare, often implying shame, vulnerability, and exposure. It points to a complete lack of protective coverings. In biblical contexts, `arowm` can represent extreme poverty or even spiritual destitution (Gen 3:7, 10 - Adam and Eve after the Fall; Isa 20:3-4 - a prophetic sign of disgrace). Here, it emphasizes the literal physical stripping of dignity and means.
• without clothing (`bᵉlî kᵉsûth`, בְּלִי כְסוּת): This phrase literally means "without covering/garment" and acts as an intensification and clarification of "naked." It reinforces the absolute lack of even the most rudimentary protective attire against the elements, signifying total material deprivation and abandonment. `Kᵉsûth` (covering) is a basic human need often highlighted in laws concerning the poor (Exo 22:27 - a poor man's cloak to be returned at night).
• they carry sheaves (`nôsʾiym ʻōmer`, נֹשְׂאִים עֹמֶר): This portrays arduous, productive labor in the agricultural context, specifically the harvest of grain. "Carrying sheaves" implies participation in the very act of producing sustenance and wealth. The Hebrew word `ʻōmer` (sheaf) is symbolic of a plentiful harvest, God's provision (as with the manna in Exo 16:16), and thanksgiving (Lev 23:10 - wave sheaf).
• but are hungry (`rᵉʿēbhîym`, רְעֵבִים): This word describes being famished or starving. The conjunction "but" creates a powerful, tragic paradox: despite engaging in the work that should yield food, they remain hungry. This is the core of the injustice – an extreme disjunction between immense labor and complete deprivation of its fruit. It signifies not just mild hunger but literal starvation, highlighting severe physical suffering and exploitation.

• "They go about naked, without clothing": This combined phrase highlights the utter destitution and vulnerability of the exploited. The double expression (`arowm` and `bli kᵉsût`) emphasizes the extremity of their lack, going beyond simple poverty to complete social and physical exposure. It implicitly critiques a society that allows such conditions to exist, directly contradicting the Mosaic law's commands to care for the poor (e.g., Dt 22:1-4). This phrase can be seen as a polemic against any notion that such suffering is purely individual failing, instead pointing to societal breakdown and injustice.
• "they carry sheaves, but are hungry": This powerful antithesis encapsulates the deep injustice being depicted. It contrasts strenuous, life-sustaining labor with absolute personal deprivation. The very act of harvesting food for others leads to their own starvation. This group of words represents a profound violation of natural justice, where those who create abundance are systematically denied a share. It directly opposes the principle of workers benefitting from their toil (Dt 25:4; 1 Tim 5:18). This polemically challenges any theological framework that assumes the prosperity of all within a given societal order to be solely dependent on their piety, exposing systemic sin rather than personal sin as the source of their plight.

Job 24 10 Bonus section

The state of "naked, without clothing" extends beyond mere material deprivation; it symbolizes the complete stripping away of dignity, honor, and social standing, leaving these individuals utterly exposed to shame and the elements. This imagery would resonate deeply with an ancient audience where clothing symbolized identity, status, and protection. The failure to provide even this basic necessity to those producing society's food speaks to a profound moral failure on the part of the powerful and a direct abrogation of God's commands regarding justice for the poor (Lev 19:13; Dt 24:14-15). The silence of God in the face of such obvious injustice is Job's vexation throughout this chapter, intensifying his theological dilemma.

Job 24 10 Commentary

Job 24:10 is a poignant articulation of profound injustice, serving as Job's counter-argument to his friends' simplistic theology. It exposes a world where the basic needs of life—food and clothing—are denied to those whose strenuous labor actually produces them. The workers, stripped of dignity and basic protection, toil in the fields to gather sheaves, the very symbols of sustenance and plenty, yet they remain tragically hungry. This verse condemns not just isolated acts of oppression but systemic exploitation, where the vulnerable are denied even the most fundamental human right to the fruits of their own labor. It underscores Job's central complaint: the wicked often flourish while the righteous or innocent suffer, challenging the immediate retribution principle of divine justice.