Job 24 14

Job 24:14 kjv

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

Job 24:14 nkjv

The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief.

Job 24:14 niv

When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up, kills the poor and needy, and in the night steals forth like a thief.

Job 24:14 esv

The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.

Job 24:14 nlt

The murderer rises in the early dawn
to kill the poor and needy;
at night he is a thief.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 14 Meaning

Job 24:14 depicts the callous and predatory nature of certain wicked individuals. Job describes a murderer who rises at dawn to prey upon the poor and helpless, contrasting this open act of violence with his behavior as a thief by night. The verse underscores Job's lament about the apparent lack of divine intervention against such flagrant injustice and oppression of the vulnerable in the world.

Job 24 14 Context

Job 24 is part of Job’s third speech (chapters 23-24) in which he continues to argue against the conventional theology of his friends, particularly Zophar. While Job's friends assert that God immediately punishes all wickedness, Job points to the lived reality where the wicked often appear to prosper and act with impunity, especially against the poor and vulnerable. Chapter 24 is a litany of examples of injustice – from moving boundary markers to oppressing widows and orphans – culminating in Job's stark portrayal of the unpunished murderer and thief. This verse specifically highlights the open and covert ways the wicked commit their evil acts without visible retribution, serving as a direct challenge to the neat retributive justice theology proposed by his friends. Historically and culturally, Job’s complaint would resonate in a society where justice systems were often corrupt or inadequate, leaving the marginalized defenseless.

Job 24 14 Word analysis

• The murderer (Hebrew: רֹצֵחַ, rōṣēaḥ): This term denotes someone who sheds blood, a violent killer. It often implies intentional homicide rather than accidental killing, marking a deliberate act of malice. This person is not just committing a crime; they embody wickedness that infringes upon the most fundamental right: life itself.
• rising with the light (Hebrew: לָאוֹר, lāʾôr): Literally "to the light" or "at dawn." This detail is striking. Dawn is typically associated with new beginnings, work, and honest activity, but here, it marks the time when the murderer strikes. It could suggest a quick, decisive action, exploiting the dim light before the full activity of the day begins, or an audacity that acts even as the light appears.
• killeth (Hebrew: יִקְטֹל, yiqṭōl): A direct and violent act of killing or slaughtering. It underscores the severity and finality of the crime committed against the victim.
• the poor (Hebrew: עָנִי, ʿānî): Refers to the afflicted, the humble, those who lack material possessions, power, or influence. They are particularly vulnerable members of society.
• and needy (Hebrew: אֶבְיוֹן, ʾeḇyôn): This term intensifies "the poor," meaning the destitute, the utterly impoverished, those who are truly dependent and without resources. The pairing emphasizes the victim's complete helplessness and the assailant's depravity in targeting the weakest.
• in the night (Hebrew: בַּלַּיְלָה, ballaylâ): This shifts the scene and modus operandi. Night naturally provides cover for clandestine activities. It contrasts with the "rising with the light" to show the multi-faceted nature of the wicked person's predatory actions, adapting to different circumstances.
• is as a thief (Hebrew: יִהְיֶה גַנָּב, yihyeh gannāḇ): Literally "he becomes/is a thief." This denotes someone who steals or robs. The shift from murder by day to theft by night highlights two primary forms of societal transgression—violence against persons and violence against property—both committed by the same type of ungodly individual. The parallelism suggests a consistent pattern of violating justice.

Words-group analysis

• "The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy": This phrase paints a picture of stark depravity. The murderer, bold or opportunistic, does not hide their violence in absolute darkness but strikes swiftly at dawn, against those least able to defend themselves. This exposes the heartless cruelty of targeting the weakest in society. The lack of hiding in absolute darkness might signify audacity or seizing the advantage of quiet early hours before the day is fully awake.
• "and in the night is as a thief": This extends the criminal's nature to covert operations. It indicates a duality in their wickedness – one that preys violently on life, and another that exploits darkness to steal property. Both actions involve violating boundaries, taking what does not belong to them, and doing harm, demonstrating a complete disregard for moral law and societal norms.

Job 24 14 Bonus section

This verse can be understood as Job’s indictment of both overt and covert forms of societal oppression, often originating from the same corrupt heart. The "rising with the light" part, rather than implying complete transparency, might suggest a cunning approach, using the early hours to commit an act swiftly before witnesses are present, or a blatant disregard for hiding due to a perceived impunity. The two different crime types (murder and theft) against the same type of victim (poor and needy) highlight the relentless and diverse nature of this person's wickedness. It reinforces Job's struggle to reconcile God's goodness and omnipotence with the pervasive and apparently unpunished suffering of the righteous and the innocent. This verse emphasizes the deep concern within biblical wisdom literature for the welfare of the poor and the strong condemnation of those who exploit them.

Job 24 14 Commentary

Job 24:14 captures Job’s exasperation at the apparent divine tolerance for pervasive evil. He describes a particularly abhorrent type of wicked person: a calculated predator who oppresses the utterly vulnerable both by daylight (murder) and under the cloak of night (theft). This individual exemplifies a profound moral corruption, unafraid of public exposure ("rising with the light") in one aspect of their crime, and adept at clandestine acts in another. Job uses this graphic example, alongside others in the chapter, to challenge the simplistic belief of his friends that God instantly punishes all wrongdoing. For Job, such unpunished wickedness observed in daily life demonstrates a mysterious, and to him, troubling aspect of divine justice, raising questions about God's governance of the world. It’s a powerful complaint about the reality of injustice seemingly left unchecked, pressing deeper theological inquiry into the timing and manner of God’s intervention.