Job 24 23

Job 24:23 kjv

Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

Job 24:23 nkjv

He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.

Job 24:23 niv

He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.

Job 24:23 esv

He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.

Job 24:23 nlt

They may be allowed to live in security,
but God is always watching them.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 23 Meaning

Job 24:23 conveys a deep theological paradox in Job's lament: the observed reality that the wicked often appear to enjoy security and continued well-being ("Though it give him safety and he be supported"), even as God maintains complete awareness and scrutiny of their actions ("Yet His eyes are on their ways"). It highlights the tension between the apparent delay of divine justice and God's perfect knowledge, asserting that God is not blind or indifferent to the deeds of humanity, even when His judgment seems postponed.

Job 24 23 Context

Chapter 24 is part of Job’s third and final defense before his friends (chapters 24-27), where he expresses his profound perplexity concerning the apparent lack of divine intervention against rampant evil. Job provides numerous examples of the wicked oppressing the poor and needy, invading property rights, and committing various hidden sins (vv. 2-17), observing that these perpetrators seem to go unpunished and even thrive. Job’s statement in verse 23 acts as a pivotal moment within this lament. Despite all the visible injustices and the prosperity of the wicked, Job asserts his foundational belief in God's omnipresent awareness. While God may allow temporary security or defer immediate judgment, His discerning "eyes are on their ways," ensuring that all deeds are noted for an ultimate reckoning, a truth more fully expounded by Job later (v. 24) and throughout the book.

Job 24 23 Word analysis

• "Though it give him safety": From the Hebrew שֶׁיִּבְטַח (sheyyivtaḥ), derived from the root בָּטַח (batach), meaning to trust, feel secure, or rely on. Here, it suggests that the wicked experience a period of peace, security, or freedom from immediate harm, or that God permits them this state of security. It highlights the perceived or temporary immunity of the wicked, challenging conventional wisdom that suggests immediate retribution for sin. This is not God bestowing safety in a positive sense, but a description of their apparent, provisional state.
• "and he be supported": From the Hebrew וְיִסָּמֵךְ (ve'yissamékh), meaning to lean upon, uphold, or be sustained. It implies a continuation of their prosperous or stable condition, indicating that they are not immediately overthrown or allowed to collapse. Their state of flourishing or stability continues without apparent divine interference.
• "Yet His eyes": From the Hebrew עֵינָיו (ʿeynaw), referring explicitly to God’s eyes. This emphasizes divine omniscience and omnipresence. It's not a casual glance but a profound, penetrating observation. God is perfectly aware and discerning. This clause introduces the crucial theological counterpoint to the wicked's temporary security, underscoring God's full knowledge.
• "are on their ways": From the Hebrew עַל־דַּרְכֵיהֶם (ʿal darkheyhem). The term דֶּרֶךְ (derekh) encompasses paths, conduct, lifestyle, and choices. It means God observes their entire course of life, every action, intention, and decision. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Words-group analysis

• "Though it give him safety and he be supported": This entire phrase encapsulates the apparent reality that Job is wrestling with—the temporary, unpunished prosperity and stability of those who commit evil. It speaks to the mystery of delayed justice, where the wicked appear to avoid the immediate consequences of their actions, enjoying a sense of false or provisional security.
• "Yet His eyes are on their ways": This second part of the verse directly counters the unsettling observation in the first. Despite the apparent lack of immediate divine intervention, this powerful affirmation underscores God's perfect knowledge, awareness, and discernment of all human conduct, particularly the evil actions of those seemingly prosperous. It guarantees that their deeds do not go unnoticed and implies ultimate accountability, asserting that divine non-intervention is a matter of timing or purpose, not ignorance or apathy.

Job 24 23 Bonus section

• The tension described in this verse is a common struggle for believers across generations, often referred to as "the problem of evil" or "the prosperity of the wicked."
• Job’s insight here hints at God's sovereign control over even the duration of the wicked's flourishing. Their seeming safety is permitted rather than truly granted in approval.
• This verse provides a crucial foundation for understanding that God’s non-intervention is not inaction, but a deferred judgment or part of a greater, incomprehensible purpose. It ensures that God remains the ultimate arbiter of justice, despite what is observed in the temporal world.

Job 24 23 Commentary

Job 24:23 succinctly expresses the profound theological tension at the heart of the book of Job: the coexistence of rampant injustice with a sovereign, just, and omniscient God. Job articulates his bewildered observation that the wicked appear to enjoy a continued state of security and even flourishing ("Though it give him safety and he be supported"). This perception directly contradicts the simplistic wisdom tradition held by his friends, which insists on immediate and direct retribution for sin. However, amidst this perplexing reality, Job asserts an unwavering truth: "Yet His eyes are on their ways." This powerful declaration affirms God's perfect knowledge and constant vigilance over all human actions. It clarifies that divine allowance of evil's temporary success is not an indicator of ignorance, indifference, or powerlessness on God's part. Rather, it implies a divine plan, timing, or sovereign will concerning the ultimate dispensing of justice. This verse provides a glimpse into Job's clinging to God's attributes even in the midst of his deep questioning, setting the stage for the book’s eventual resolution where God's inscrutable wisdom and power are revealed as far beyond human comprehension. The verse, therefore, moves beyond mere complaint to a paradoxical acknowledgment of God's omnipresent awareness, foreshadowing that accountability for evil is inevitable, though its timing rests solely with the Lord.