Job 34 20

Job 34:20 kjv

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

Job 34:20 nkjv

In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand.

Job 34:20 niv

They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

Job 34:20 esv

In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

Job 34:20 nlt

In a moment they die.
In the middle of the night they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 20 Meaning

Job 34:20 states Elihu's assertion of God's sudden, absolute, and unassisted power in executing judgment, particularly upon those who are mighty or wicked. It means that powerful individuals or oppressors can be removed from their positions instantly, at the most unexpected times (symbolized by midnight), causing widespread upheaval among the people, and this demise is brought about directly by God without any human intervention or visible means.

Job 34 20 Context

Job 34:20 is spoken by Elihu, the fourth and youngest of Job's counselors. Elihu enters the discourse in Job chapter 32, claiming he has waited patiently for the older men to finish. Unlike the first three friends who simplistically linked Job's suffering to specific, direct sin, Elihu takes a different approach. He argues for God's unquestionable righteousness and sovereignty, asserting that God cannot do wrong and governs the world with perfect justice (v. 10-17). Elihu contends that God observes all human actions (v. 21) and brings down the wicked and mighty without partiality or warning. This specific verse (34:20) serves to illustrate God's impartial power, showing that no one, regardless of their status or power, is beyond His immediate, unexpected, and unassisted judgment. Elihu's purpose is to vindicate God's justice in Job's sufferings, shifting from the direct accusation of sin to a broader theology of divine mystery and absolute control over humanity's fate, preparing Job for the Lord's direct intervention.

Job 34 20 Word analysis

• "In a moment" (כְּרָגַע, kə·rā·ḡaʿ): This Hebrew term denotes immediacy, instantly, or in a sudden flash. It underscores the unexpected and swift nature of divine judgment, emphasizing that God's actions are not gradual or telegraphed, but can occur without warning, highlighting His absolute authority and power.
• "they die" (יָמֻתוּ, yā·mu·ṯū): Refers to the demise or cessation of life, particularly in the context of Elihu's argument, referring to those whom God judges, implicitly the wicked or powerful oppressors, as highlighted in the preceding verses.
• "at midnight" (וַחֲצוֹת לָיְלָה, wa·ḥă·ṣōṯ lā·yə·lāh): "Midnight" is not merely a specific time but a culturally significant symbol. In biblical narrative, midnight is often associated with the most vulnerable hour, when people are asleep and unaware, and often when significant divine interventions or judgments occur (e.g., the Passover in Exod 12:29). It signifies an unforeseen, unavoidable, and profound intervention.
• "the people are shaken" (יִגָּעֲשׁוּ עָם, yig·gā·ʿă·šū ʿām): The verb yig·gā·ʿă·šū implies to be agitated, convulsed, troubled, or rocked. It describes a profound disturbance or terror that affects the entire population when God's sudden judgment against the mighty unfolds, demonstrating the ripple effect of divine action on human society.
• "and pass away" (וַיַּעֲבֹרוּ, wa·y_ya·ʿă·ḇō·rū): Implies disappearance, cessation, or being removed. It denotes the complete and final end of those affected by God's judgment, signifying their absolute obliteration from power or existence.
• "and the mighty" (אַבִּיר, ’ab·bîr): This term, when referring to humans, designates the strong, powerful, or princely ones. It refers to those in positions of authority, influence, or physical strength who might consider themselves invincible. The use here highlights that even the most formidable human figures are utterly susceptible to divine power.
• "are taken away" (וְיָסִירוּ, wə·yā·sî·rū): This verb conveys removal, turning aside, or dismissal. In context, it strongly implies that God Himself removes the mighty, emphasizing active divine intervention in their downfall.
• "without human hand" (לֹא בְיַד אָדָם, lōʾ bə·yad ’ā·ḏām): This is a critical phrase, literally "not by hand of man." It explicitly asserts that God's actions are solely His, unassisted by any human agency or earthly instrument. This emphasizes His supreme, independent power and challenges any notion that divine judgment must come through observable human conflict or action. It underscores God's direct, supernatural involvement, as seen in the stone "cut without human hand" in Daniel 2:34.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "In a moment they die, and at midnight": This grouping emphasizes the shocking swiftness and unexpected timing of God's judgment. Death and upheaval occur instantly and in the deepest, most vulnerable hours, revealing God's absolute sovereignty over time and life.
• "the people are shaken and pass away": This phrase describes the profound, widespread consequence of God's judgment. It's not just the individual, but a societal shaking and removal, underscoring the severity and public impact of such divine intervention.
• "and the mighty are taken away without human hand": This powerfully highlights the unique nature of God's power. Those who are strongest and most influential among humans are removed directly by God, with no human agency or visible cause. This negates the idea that great downfalls require human conspiracy or warfare, pointing instead to God's ultimate and unchallengeable authority over all earthly power structures.

Job 34 20 Bonus section

The concept of "without human hand" is highly significant, reiterating the absolute sovereignty and transcendence of God, especially over the affairs of powerful human rulers and kingdoms. It provides a contrast to human limitations and dependence. This divine autonomy is also a profound theological point, distinguishing the God of the Bible from deities of other cultures who might be seen as requiring human effort or sacrifices to enact their will. For Job, this might imply that his suffering, though seemingly arbitrary from a human perspective, might be part of an inscrutable divine plan, emphasizing God's freedom to act outside predictable human paradigms, preparing him for the direct revelation from the Whirlwind in later chapters.

Job 34 20 Commentary

Job 34:20 forms a crucial part of Elihu's argument that God is absolutely just and all-powerful, governing the world with unfathomable wisdom. This verse specifically articulates God's method of judgment against the wicked or the proud: it is instant, unexpected, and solely divine in origin. The mention of "midnight" symbolizes the deep, unaware hour when disaster strikes without warning, while "without human hand" affirms God's total independence and direct action in meting out justice. This truth serves to remind humanity that no earthly power, wisdom, or precaution can thwart God's sovereign will or avoid His judgments when they are due. It challenges a simplistic view of cause and effect, suggesting that God's interventions can transcend observable patterns, working spontaneously and invisibly to humble the haughty and elevate the lowly. The verse establishes the foundational truth that the removal of even the most formidable individuals or regimes rests entirely in the unseen hand of God, inspiring both awe and reverent fear.