Job 34:25 kjv
Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Job 34:25 nkjv
Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
Job 34:25 niv
Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Job 34:25 esv
Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
Job 34:25 nlt
He knows what they do,
and in the night he overturns and destroys them.
Job 34 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 139:1-4 | O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar... | God's omnipresent knowledge of thoughts and actions. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | Nothing is concealed from God; complete transparency before Him. |
| Jer 16:17 | For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes. | God sees all deeds, and iniquity cannot be hidden from Him. |
| Prov 5:21 | For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he watches all his paths. | God observes every step and decision a person makes. |
| Ps 62:12 | ...and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you render to each man according to his work. | God repays according to deeds, showcasing His justice and love. |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works. | God's righteous judgment applies to all based on their actions. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Christ's return includes bringing full recompense for all actions. |
| 1 Thes 5:2-3 | For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them... | Judgment comes suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. |
| Lk 12:20 | But God said to him, 'You fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' | Sudden death and reckoning for those unprepared. |
| Job 27:20-22 | Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place. | Sudden, overwhelming destruction for the wicked. |
| Ps 73:18-19 | Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! | Wicked are suddenly and completely brought to ruin by God. |
| Isa 13:9-11 | Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation... | Divine wrath leading to the overthrow of the proud and wicked. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble... " | The future day of the Lord will consume the wicked completely. |
| Ps 37:10 | In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. | The temporary nature of the wicked and their ultimate disappearance. |
| Prov 1:27 | when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. | Sudden disaster striking those who reject wisdom. |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. | God's ability to discern and justly treat the righteous and the wicked. |
| Rev 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. | Final, crushing judgment and wrath of God on wicked nations. |
| Ps 11:6 | On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. | God pours out destructive judgment on the wicked. |
| Prov 24:12 | If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it...? | God's knowledge penetrates the heart, knowing even supposed ignorance. |
| 1 Sam 2:3 | ...for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. | God, being all-knowing, weighs all human actions. |
| Dan 5:30-31 | That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed... | Example of sudden, overnight overthrow of a powerful king. |
| Acts 12:23 | Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. | Sudden divine judgment for arrogance. |
Job 34 verses
Job 34 25 Meaning
Elihu declares that God possesses complete and exhaustive knowledge of all human actions, especially the evil deeds of the wicked. He asserts that God's judgment is swift and decisive, appearing suddenly and unexpectedly, metaphorically "in the night." This divine intervention results in the complete overthrow and utter destruction of those who commit such evil. The verse emphasizes God's omniscience and active justice in executing righteous judgment.
Job 34 25 Context
Job chapter 34 features the third of Elihu's speeches. Throughout his discourse (chapters 32-37), Elihu, a younger observer, steps in after Job's three friends have exhausted their arguments and silence, offering a "fresh" perspective. He intends to correct Job, arguing passionately for God's justice and sovereignty, a core theme often misconstrued in the debate.
Verse 25 is part of Elihu's broader argument in Job 34, specifically from verses 10-30, where he declares God's unquestionable righteousness and omnipotence as a judge. He emphasizes that God rules without partiality (v.19), needs no long investigation, and acts decisively based on His perfect knowledge. Elihu is essentially countering Job's despair and implied questioning of God's justice, asserting that God repays deeds according to merit, both good and bad (v.11), and therefore cannot be the source of Job's seemingly undeserved suffering in a way that implies injustice on God's part. The historical context reflects an ancient worldview where divine intervention and justice were central to understanding the universe, contrasting with Job's own perception of a distant or unfairly severe God. Elihu's words serve as a polemic against any notion that evil deeds could go unpunished, or that God might be unaware, passive, or subject to human challenge.
Job 34 25 Word analysis
- Therefore (לָכֵ֕ן - lāḵēn): A concluding particle, signaling a logical consequence derived from previous statements. It links God's sovereign power and non-partiality (v.19) to His knowledge and swift judgment, reinforcing Elihu's argument that God justly repays all actions.
- he knows (יֵדַע֙ - yêḏaʿ): From the Hebrew verb יָדַע (yadaʿ), signifying a deep, experiential, and complete understanding, not merely intellectual awareness. This verb form (imperfect) denotes continuous or habitual knowledge. It stresses God's omniscience—His perfect and constant awareness of all human deeds. It means God not only observes but comprehends the full nature and intent behind actions.
- their works (מַֽעֲבָדֵיהֶ֔ם - maʿăḇāḏêhem): Refers to "their deeds" or "their actions." This is not limited to overt acts but encompasses the full scope of human conduct and moral behavior, particularly the wicked deeds alluded to in Elihu's context (e.g., oppressing the poor, turning away from God, vv.26-27). God's knowledge extends to every detail of these "works."
- he overturns (יַהֲפֹךְ - yahafoḵ): From the Hebrew הָפַךְ (haphak), "to turn," "to overthrow," "to upset." This verb, in the Hiphil imperfect, emphasizes God actively causing the overthrow. It denotes a radical reversal of status, power, or existence, signifying a complete dismantling or destruction. It highlights God's power to intervene decisively and destroy what seems firmly established.
- them: Not a separate word in Hebrew, but implied by the verb's plural object and context, referring to the "wicked" (v.26) or the people whose "works" are being known and judged.
- in the night (בַּלַּ֖יְלָה - ballayla): The Hebrew word לַיְלָה (laylâ) means "night." The definite article implies a specific night, though it's used figuratively. "In the night" symbolizes suddenness, unexpectedness, and a time when human beings are most vulnerable or unaware, and when deeds often are hidden. It signifies God's judgment can strike without warning or preparation, catching evildoers in their perceived security, highlighting God's immediate and unannounced action.
- and they are crushed (וַיִּדָּֽכֲאֽוּ - wayyiddāḵăʾū): From the Hebrew verb דָּכָא (dakaʾ), meaning "to be crushed," "to be broken down," "to be bruised." The Niphal imperfect (passive voice) emphasizes the state of being crushed as a result of divine action. This describes a complete and utterly destructive defeat, leaving no hope for recovery. It denotes a final, irreversible outcome for the wicked, illustrating the severe consequence of divine judgment.
Job 34 25 Bonus section
Elihu's perspective in this verse serves as a crucial theological counterbalance to Job's profound anguish and perceived divine abandonment. While Job's suffering was a test, Elihu reminds that God actively oversees human morality. The "night" metaphor could also subtly highlight that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension, unfolding in ways and times that seem obscure to mortal eyes but are perfectly clear and purposeful in God's divine timing. This contrasts with the human tendency to seek immediate explanations or a visible, daytime resolution to all divine dealings. It speaks to the inscrutability of God's timing even as His justice remains unwavering.
Job 34 25 Commentary
Job 34:25 stands as a forceful declaration of divine omniscience and active justice. Elihu asserts that God not only observes every human deed with perfect knowledge but also acts decisively and unexpectedly to punish the wicked. The phrase "he knows their works" speaks to God's all-encompassing awareness, meaning no sin or hidden motive escapes His gaze. This divine awareness isn't passive; it's prelude to action. "He overturns them in the night" portrays God as an immediate, unpredictable, and irresistible judge. The imagery of "night" conveys suddenness and an element of surprise, striking when those who do evil feel most secure or unobserved. This divine action leads to the dire consequence: "and they are crushed," signifying complete ruin and utter defeat, emphasizing the finality and totality of God's righteous judgment against impenitent evildoers. The verse underscores God's sovereignty over humanity and the moral universe, reaffirming His commitment to upholding justice by bringing every deed into account and meting out recompense.