Job 24 2

Job 24:2 kjv

Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.

Job 24:2 nkjv

"Some remove landmarks; They seize flocks violently and feed on them;

Job 24:2 niv

There are those who move boundary stones; they pasture flocks they have stolen.

Job 24:2 esv

Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.

Job 24:2 nlt

Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers.
They steal livestock and put them in their own pastures.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 2 Meaning

Job 24:2 describes a form of injustice prevalent in the world, where wicked individuals disregard established property rights and engage in outright theft. Specifically, it points to actions such as shifting boundary markers, which delineate inherited land, and seizing livestock—fundamental sources of livelihood for many in ancient societies—then profiting from these stolen goods. Job highlights these clear acts of wickedness to underscore his lament regarding the apparent prosperity of the unrighteous and the lack of immediate divine intervention.

Job 24 2 Context

Job 24:2 falls within Job's third discourse, where he continues to grapple with the perplexing question of why the wicked often prosper while the righteous suffer. Following Eliphaz and Bildad's arguments that suffering indicates sin, Job articulates numerous examples of grave injustices he observes in the world (Job 24:2-12). He portrays a vivid picture of rampant oppression, exploitation, and theft by the ungodly, who seemingly escape immediate retribution. The verse sets the stage by illustrating specific crimes that strip the vulnerable of their livelihoods—the literal foundational pillars of their existence and sustenance. This context is critical, as Job is not denying divine justice conceptually but questioning its apparent absence in real-time, empirical observations, contrasting it with God's perceived lack of intervention. This section also subtly continues a polemic against the simplistic retribution theology offered by his friends, which fails to account for the harsh realities of life.

Job 24 2 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis

• Some (יֶש - yesh): Literally "there is," "there are." In this context, it refers to a group or type of people, rather than specific individuals, denoting the commonness or widespread nature of the described acts. It speaks to a societal problem, a recognized pattern of behavior among the ungodly.
• remove (יַסִּיגוּ - yassîgû): This is the Hiphil imperfect form of the verb נָסַג (nasag), meaning "to move back," "to displace," or "to draw away." The Hiphil causation implies intentionality—they cause the landmarks to be removed or they push them back. It implies active, deliberate, and illicit interference with established boundaries, a form of deceit and violation.
• landmarks (גְּבוּלֹות - gəvûlōṯ): Plural of גְּבוּל (gəvûl), meaning "boundary," "border," or "territory." These were physical stones or markers used in ancient Israel to denote property lines and inherited land (cf. Deut 19:14, Prov 22:28). The moving of these landmarks was a serious offense, often associated with a curse, as it deprived individuals, particularly the vulnerable, of their rightful, God-given inheritance and means of support. It struck at the core of Israelite communal and economic stability.
• they seize (יִגְזְלוּ - yigzĕlû): Imperfect form of גָּזַל (gazal), meaning "to tear away," "to rob," or "to plunder by violence." This verb implies a forceful, predatory act of taking what does not belong to them. It is not merely picking something up, but actively taking possession through might or trickery, denoting a significant breach of justice and societal trust.
• flocks (עֵדֶר - ʿēḏer): A group of domestic animals, typically sheep or goats, used for their meat, milk, wool, and as currency. For many ancient Israelite families, flocks were their primary, if not sole, source of livelihood, sustenance, and wealth. Their theft was devastating.
• and feed them (וַיִּרְעוּ - wayyirʿû): This is the Waw-consecutive imperfect of רָעָה (raʿah), meaning "to pasture," "to graze," or "to feed." The implication is that they not only steal the flocks but then integrate them into their own herds, benefiting from the stolen goods, demonstrating complete appropriation and profit from their wicked deeds. This phrase seals the picture of exploitation and brazenness.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Some remove the landmarks": This phrase highlights the violation of fundamental property rights. In an agrarian society, land was identity, inheritance, and survival. Shifting boundaries was an act of economic disenfranchisement, especially targeting the weak and vulnerable who lacked means to defend their claims. It was an insidious form of theft, hard to detect and correct, and deeply disruptive to social order established by covenant law. This specific crime was so egregious it carried a divine curse in the Mosaic Law, emphasizing its spiritual and social gravity.
• "they seize flocks and feed them": This describes blatant and violent theft of essential assets. Flocks represented wealth and immediate sustenance. The act of "seizing" (violence, robbery) followed by "feeding them" (appropriating, incorporating into one's own means of production) completes the picture of active, unashamed exploitation for personal gain. It signifies not just taking, but full conversion of another's assets to one's own profit, reflecting utter disregard for the victims and any notion of justice.

Job 24 2 Bonus section

The crime of moving landmarks (Hebrew: gĕvûl) held significant religious and cultural weight in ancient Israel. Land was understood as a divine gift, often inherited through families and passed down through generations. To tamper with a landmark was not merely a property dispute; it was an assault on one's inheritance, a violation of divine providence, and an act that dislocated families from their tribal and ancestral lands. Such an act was particularly devastating to those who had limited means, like widows or orphans, who were less able to defend their rights. Deuteronomy explicitly places a curse on those who move landmarks, underscoring the severity of this transgression in God's eyes. Job's choice of this specific act of injustice (along with seizing flocks) underscores the deep moral decay he witnesses, crimes against God's intended order and care for the vulnerable. The irony Job points out is that such foundational acts of lawlessness go unpunished by divine hand, fueling his profound theological struggle.

Job 24 2 Commentary

Job 24:2 serves as a stark illustration of the concrete manifestations of injustice that Job observed around him, challenging the neat theological framework of his friends. He points to two particularly heinous acts that strike at the very foundation of societal and economic stability in ancient Israel. Removing landmarks was a slow, subtle form of theft, often directed at widows, orphans, and the poor who couldn't defend their boundaries, undermining the sacred land inheritance decreed by God. Seizing flocks, by contrast, was an overt act of robbery, directly depriving a family of its immediate sustenance and wealth. The wicked are not only taking but profiting from their plunder, feeding stolen animals for their own gain. Job highlights the audacious and pervasive nature of such injustice, raising his fundamental question: why does a just God permit such blatant and unchecked wickedness to thrive, causing the righteous to suffer? The verse succinctly captures the disarray of human affairs when moral principles and divine justice seem absent from the immediate visible experience.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • Consider a business that surreptitiously reconfigures land surveys to expand its property at the expense of a weaker neighbor, akin to moving landmarks.
  • Imagine a powerful corporation that exploits vulnerable workers by seizing their deserved wages, much like feeding on stolen flocks by taking their livelihood.