Job 34 30

Job 34:30 kjv

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Job 34:30 nkjv

That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

Job 34:30 niv

to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.

Job 34:30 esv

that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

Job 34:30 nlt

He prevents the godless from ruling
so they cannot be a snare to the people.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 30 Meaning

Job 34:30 speaks of God's sovereign control over human leadership, asserting that He providentially intervenes to prevent a wicked, impious individual from reigning so extensively or unjustly that the populace falls into moral decay or severe oppression. It posits that God limits the power of the godless for the sake of the people's well-being and to avert widespread ruin.

Job 34 30 Context

Job 34:30 is part of Elihu's third speech, spanning chapters 34 and 35, within the larger narrative of the Book of Job. After Job and his three friends have exhausted their arguments regarding the nature of suffering and God's justice, Elihu enters the discussion as a younger, divinely inspired speaker. In chapter 34, Elihu passionately defends God's absolute righteousness and justice against Job's implicit accusation that God is unfair or uncaring. He asserts God's omniscience and omnipotence, declaring that God sees everything and judges impartially. Verse 30 specifically illustrates God's providential governance over human affairs, especially leadership, assuring Job that God controls rulers for the welfare of His people. The historical context reflects a Near Eastern society where leaders held immense power, and Elihu's discourse subtly refutes notions of capricious deities or rulers with unchallenged divine authority, instead positing a just and involved God who reins in oppressive power.

Job 34 30 Word analysis

• that: Hebrew "לְמַעַן" (le-ma'an), signifying purpose, "in order that" or "so that." It indicates God's underlying reason or intent behind His actions in regulating human authority.
• godless man: Hebrew "אָדָם חָנֵף" ('adam chaneph).
  • אָדָם ('adam): Man, mankind, a human being. A generic term emphasizing human nature.
  • חָנֵף (chaneph): Impious, hypocrite, profane, polluted, godless. This term denotes one whose character is twisted or perverse, often used of those who show outward religiosity but are inwardly corrupt and act deceitfully or violently. In the context of leadership, it points to a ruler who uses power for selfish, unjust, or cruel ends, perverting justice. The term emphasizes moral and spiritual corruption rather than mere atheism.
• may not reign: Hebrew "לֹא יִמְלֹךְ" (lo' yimloch).
  • לֹא (lo'): Not, negation.
  • יִמְלֹךְ (yimloch): From the verb מלך (malak), meaning "to reign," "to rule," "to be king." The construction expresses prevention—God actively working to hinder or remove the rule of such a person. It highlights God's ultimate authority over the appointment and duration of earthly kingship.
• that the people may not be ensnared: Hebrew "מִמּוֹקְשֵׁי־עָם" (mimmoqshei-'am). This is a challenging phrase with the preposition "מִן" (min, "from/lest") connected to "snares" in construct with "people."
  • מִמּוֹקְשֵׁי (mimmoqshei): From/by snares or traps. Root: מוֹקֵשׁ (moqesh), meaning a trap, snare, or lure (literally for birds or animals), and figuratively for a stumbling block, cause of ruin, or spiritual/moral danger. In this context, it implies falling into moral corruption, spiritual deviation, or profound social and political ruin due to oppressive, impious leadership.
  • עָם ('am): People, nation. It refers to the general populace, the subjects of the ruler, whose well-being God seeks to preserve.

Words-group Analysis:

• "that the godless man may not reign": This clause sets forth the direct purpose of God's intervention – to prevent unchecked, oppressive rule by a morally corrupt individual. It underscores God's active involvement in governance, rather than a hands-off approach. It doesn't imply that no wicked ruler ever reigns, but that God maintains a divine check on extreme tyranny for specific purposes, ensuring such rule does not utterly consume or eternally entangle the people.
• "that the people may not be ensnared": This clause explains the why of God's intervention. The primary concern is the populace. A godless ruler, through unjust decrees, promotion of idolatry, violence, or corruption, ensnares the people by leading them into moral compromise, spiritual error, or crushing physical and social suffering. God acts to prevent this collective downfall. It indicates divine compassion and a providential care that transcends individual suffering to protect the broader community.

Job 34 30 Bonus section

• The verse suggests a principle of divine "limiting control" over human wickedness, particularly in positions of power. While God allows suffering and some oppressive rule, there is a point beyond which He will not permit it to go without intervention, especially when it threatens to "ensnare" (i.e., corrupt or utterly destroy) His people or the general populace.
• It reinforces the biblical teaching that earthly authority, even when wielded by the unrighteous, operates within the permissive or active will of God, ultimately serving His higher purposes, even if those purposes are mysterious to humans (Rom 13:1).
• The use of "ensnared" (from moqesh) is powerful, illustrating that wicked leadership is not merely annoying or burdensome but actively traps and endangers people's spiritual and moral integrity, along with their physical well-being. This implies a deeper, more pervasive threat than just external suffering.
• This statement by Elihu functions as a counter-argument to Job's despair, offering hope that despite appearances, God remains actively engaged in upholding justice and protecting the vulnerable.

Job 34 30 Commentary

Elihu's assertion in Job 34:30 posits God as the supreme arbiter of justice and sovereignty, actively governing earthly rulers to prevent ultimate societal ruin. It argues against Job's implied notion that God is indifferent or unjust. While God permits leaders to rise and fall, including wicked ones (as seen throughout history and Scripture), this verse highlights a divine boundary. God's hand is on the reins of power, ensuring that even a godless leader does not achieve absolute tyrannical reign where the people are utterly ensnared in unrecoverable moral and physical devastation. This implies God's care extends beyond individual righteousness to the welfare and moral integrity of the broader community. It is a profound declaration of God's unseen but pervasive control, affirming His justice and compassion even amidst human suffering and perceived chaos.

• Example: Consider a situation where a ruler intends widespread systematic oppression and religious suppression (an ensnaring). According to this verse, God would intervene to prevent its full, lasting establishment, perhaps through divine intervention in health, military, or political means, ultimately limiting the extent of such evil for the sake of the populace, even if the methods are not immediately clear to humans.