Job 24 7

Job 24:7 kjv

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

Job 24:7 nkjv

They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.

Job 24:7 niv

Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold.

Job 24:7 esv

They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

Job 24:7 nlt

All night they lie naked in the cold,
without clothing or covering.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 7 Meaning

Job 24:7 graphically portrays the dire situation of the impoverished and oppressed who are stripped of their most basic human needs. It depicts them as spending the night unclothed, exposed to the harsh elements, specifically the biting cold, signifying extreme destitution, lack of dignity, and profound vulnerability. This verse highlights the profound social injustice Job observed, where the vulnerable are left to suffer while the wicked often prosper.

Job 24 7 Context

Job 24:7 is spoken by Job himself within his ongoing dialogue with his three friends, specifically as part of his fourth and longest discourse in the Book of Job. In this chapter, Job confronts the theological premise of his friends, which insists that all suffering is a direct result of sin and that the wicked are always punished in this life. Job vehemently argues against this simplistic retribution theology by presenting a detailed picture of the rampant injustice in the world. He observes that wicked individuals often exploit the poor and helpless with impunity, while those victims suffer immensely. Verse 7 serves as a poignant illustration of this societal breakdown, highlighting the tangible, extreme suffering endured by the innocent poor due to neglect and oppression, directly challenging the notion of immediate divine justice in this life.

Job 24 7 Word analysis

• They spend the night (לִין - liyn): A Hebrew verb meaning "to lodge, to remain, to dwell for a night." It emphasizes the extended period of exposure throughout the vulnerability of darkness. It signifies a lack of permanent shelter and protection, forcing continuous outdoor lodging.

• naked (עֵירֹם - 'eyrôm): Hebrew for "naked, bare, unclothed." This signifies total destitution, lacking the most basic protection for warmth, modesty, and dignity. It conveys extreme exposure and defenselessness.

• without clothing (בְּלִי כְסוּת - b(e)lî ke·sûṯ): b(e)lî means "without," and ke·sûṯ refers to a "covering" or "garment." This phrase serves as a redundancy to amplify the state of nakedness described by 'eyrôm. It powerfully underscores the complete absence of even minimal garments.

• and have no covering (אֵין לָהֶם כִּסְיָה - 'ên lā·hem kis·yâ): 'ên lā·hem means "they have not" or "there is not to them." kis·yâ is another word for "covering," often referring to a more substantial cloak or outer garment used for protection against the elements, particularly at night. This highlights the lack of crucial insulation.

• against the cold (מִקָּרָה - miq·qārāh): miq·qārāh means "from cold" or "against cold." It specifies the particular harshness of their environmental suffering, indicating that their nakedness is not just a state of being, but a source of direct physical torment.

• "They spend the night naked, without clothing": This phrase paints a vivid picture of chronic, inescapable destitution. It is not just temporary exposure but a prolonged condition of lacking basic protection, underscoring severe vulnerability. The repetition (naked and without clothing) functions as an intensifier, stressing absolute deprivation.

• "and have no covering against the cold": This highlights the direct physical agony caused by the lack of garments. It emphasizes that this destitution directly leads to physical suffering from environmental exposure, particularly severe in cold desert nights, signifying a complete absence of compassion and provision.

Job 24 7 Bonus section

• The three Hebrew terms used for "clothing/covering" ('eyrôm, kesuṯ, kisya) demonstrate a comprehensive, almost legalistic, emphasis on the total absence of any form of protection from their state of being unclothed, from any kind of garment, and from any heavy protective covering for cold nights. This layering of terminology deepens the sense of utter destitution.
• Job's use of "they" throughout Job 24, including verse 7, often implies not just any poor, but those specifically wronged and deprived by the powerful and wicked he describes in the preceding verses. Their nakedness is not incidental but often a consequence of injustice (e.g., losing a cloak taken as pledge).
• The ancient Near East culture placed high value on outer garments, especially a cloak, as it served multiple purposes: warmth, bedding, and sometimes even as security for a loan. To be deprived of it, particularly overnight, as stated in Ex 22:26-27 and Deut 24:12-13, was a sign of extreme poverty and a violation of Mosaic Law, indicating that the oppressors disregarded divine decrees.

Job 24 7 Commentary

Job 24:7 is a stark portrayal of human suffering and a profound statement on social injustice observed by Job. It serves as Job's empirical counter-argument to the neat theological formulations of his friends, who rigidly believed that only the wicked suffered. Job's detailed description of the poor "spending the night naked, without clothing, and having no covering against the cold" speaks to a tangible reality of deprivation often overlooked or denied by the comfortable. This verse underscores the vulnerability of the exploited, who not only lose their possessions but are also stripped of their dignity and exposed to severe physical hardship. It reveals Job's keen eye for societal realities, portraying the cold-heartedness of the oppressors who allow such conditions to persist without intervention, demonstrating a profound lack of righteousness in the land. The imagery challenges readers to confront the often uncomfortable truth that justice is not always swiftly administered in this present age and that true piety must include care for the marginalized.