Job 24 8

Job 24:8 kjv

They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

Job 24:8 nkjv

They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And huddle around the rock for want of shelter.

Job 24:8 niv

They are drenched by mountain rains and hug the rocks for lack of shelter.

Job 24:8 esv

They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.

Job 24:8 nlt

They are soaked by mountain showers,
and they huddle against the rocks for want of a home.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 8 Meaning

This verse describes the abject poverty and extreme vulnerability of certain individuals, often the exploited or outcasts in society, as observed by Job. It paints a vivid picture of people drenched by severe mountain rains and desperately clinging to bare rocks, not out of choice, but from the utter absence of any proper refuge or dwelling. It highlights their dire condition, exposed to the harsh elements without the basic human need of shelter, contrasting with the common expectation of justice or divine provision. Job uses such observations to question the simplistic understanding of divine justice proposed by his friends.

Job 24 8 Context

Job 24 is part of Job’s third cycle of speeches (chapters 21-27), where he directly challenges the simplistic "retribution theology" championed by his friends. They argue that God invariably blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked, asserting that Job’s suffering must stem from hidden sin. Job, however, points to the stark realities of life, observing that wicked individuals often prosper and oppress others with impunity (vv. 2-12). In this specific verse, Job gives a concrete illustration of the innocent poor being victims of a harsh environment and social injustice, lacking even the most basic human needs, such as shelter. This stands in stark contrast to the belief that God metes out immediate justice, fueling Job's existential cry about the apparent silence or delay of divine intervention. The verse serves as a potent image of suffering endured by the vulnerable whom God ostensibly protects, yet are left utterly exposed.

Job 24 8 Word analysis

• They are wet (יָרָטְפוּ, yârâṭāphû): Derived from the root רטף (raṭaph), meaning "to drip," "to flow," or "to trickle down." The verbal form implies a continuous, saturating drenching, not merely a light wetting. This portrays a state of sustained discomfort and vulnerability, highlighting the thoroughness of their exposure to the elements and their lack of protection.
• with the mountain rains (מִמָּטַר הָרִים, mīmmâṭâr hârīm):
  • מִמָּטַר (mīmmâṭâr): "from the rain of." Emphasizes the source of their misery.
  • הָרִים (hârīm): Plural of הַר (har), "mountain." Mountainous regions are often characterized by colder temperatures, denser clouds, and more persistent and heavier precipitation compared to plains. This specification intensifies the image of their harsh conditions. Mountains can also symbolize wild, desolate, or dangerous places, underscoring the remoteness and severity of their circumstances as outcasts.
• and cling (וְחִבְּקוּ, vechibbeqû): From the root חבק (ḥābaq), meaning "to embrace" or "to clasp." Here, it describes a desperate, physical clinging. It is not an act of affection or comfort, but a futile attempt to gain minimal warmth or shelter from the elements. This desperate posture underlines their utter lack of any proper alternative and their primal need for survival.
• to the rock (צוּר, tsûr): Literally, a large rock or cliff. In biblical literature, "rock" (tsûr) often symbolizes strength, stability, and God as a refuge (e.g., Ps 18:2, 61:2). However, in this context, the rock provides no warmth, no true covering, only a cold, hard, unyielding surface. The irony is stark: what is often a symbol of salvation and protection in scripture becomes a symbol of ultimate destitution and exposed misery in Job's observation. It highlights the profound contrast between their actual experience and the ideal of God as a benevolent Rock of shelter.
• for want of (מֵאֵין, me'êyn): Meaning "from non-existence of," "without," or "for lack of." This emphasizes the complete absence of a vital necessity. It is not that they chose to cling to the rock, but that they had no other option; all conventional means of shelter were unavailable to them.
• a shelter (מַחְסֶה, machseh): From the root חסה (ḥâsâh), meaning "to seek refuge." This noun refers to a "shelter," "refuge," or "hiding place." Often used metaphorically for God Himself as a refuge (e.g., Ps 91:2). The specific lack of machseh here means they are without any kind of protective dwelling—no tent, no house, not even a simple overhang that could genuinely offer protection from the rain and cold. It signifies absolute destitution.

Words-group Analysis

• "They are wet with the mountain rains": This phrase graphically illustrates the raw, physical suffering caused by environmental exposure. The imagery of being "wet" from "mountain rains" evokes piercing cold, saturation, and the draining effect of hypothermia. This is the condition of those outcast or neglected by society, subjected to elements that well-off individuals are protected from.
• "and cling to the rock": The act of "clinging" or "embracing" a hard, cold "rock" signifies a last, desperate, and ultimately futile attempt at self-preservation. It speaks of a deep longing for security and warmth that cannot be fulfilled by their surroundings. This action vividly portrays their utter helplessness and lack of resources, as even the seemingly stable rock offers no true comfort or refuge.
• "for want of a shelter": This phrase clearly states the core issue: the absence of a proper dwelling. It defines their homelessness and vulnerability. This lack is a basic human rights concern and a direct challenge to the idea of a just social order, which Job sees as failing. It is an argument against the idea that the poor are necessarily sinful, as often their plight is due to exploitation by the powerful, who in Job’s observation, often flourish.

Job 24 8 Bonus section

• Echoes of Covenant Curses: The extreme exposure described, particularly the lack of secure dwelling, resonates with the curses found in Deut 28:30-40, which speak of building houses but not dwelling in them, or facing the hardships of elements as consequences of disobedience. Job observes this happening not to the wicked but seemingly to the helpless innocent, further challenging the Deuteronomic theology as a sole explanation for suffering.
• Polemics against Simple Retribution: This verse serves as Job’s experiential evidence against his friends' rigid belief that prosperity equals righteousness and suffering equals wickedness. Job’s description of people, perhaps those oppressed by the wicked individuals mentioned earlier in the chapter, being without shelter, argues directly that visible suffering does not always equate to divine punishment for sin. It suggests that injustice persists in the world without immediate divine correction.
• Theological Void: The phrase "for want of a shelter" (מֵאֵין מַחְסֶה, me'êyn machseh) can subtly carry a deeper theological implication. While machseh refers to physical shelter, it is also frequently used for God as the ultimate refuge. The lack of any shelter might subtly imply a perceived lack of divine refuge or protection for these suffering individuals, contributing to Job's sense of abandonment or perplexity regarding God's role in the world's injustices.

Job 24 8 Commentary

Job 24:8 offers a piercing social commentary within Job’s broader argument against retribution theology. It depicts the harrowing reality for the severely disadvantaged, who are subjected to the brutal indifference of both nature and society. These individuals, whether marginalized, displaced, or victims of the powerful, lack basic necessities. Their suffering from relentless cold and rain, forcing them into the pitiful act of embracing a cold, unyielding rock, is a profound observation of injustice. Job implies that such overt suffering among the apparently innocent, with the wicked seemingly unpunished (as described earlier in the chapter), challenges conventional views of immediate divine judgment. The verse highlights not only physical deprivation but also the deep psychological and spiritual desolation that comes from such a life without true shelter or succor. It serves as a reminder that the world often fails to live up to the righteous order expected, urging deeper contemplation of divine justice and human responsibility towards the vulnerable.