Job 36 21

Job 36:21 kjv

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Job 36:21 nkjv

Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.

Job 36:21 niv

Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.

Job 36:21 esv

Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

Job 36:21 nlt

Be on guard! Turn back from evil,
for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 21 Meaning

Job 36:21 contains a direct and serious warning from Elihu to Job, cautioning him against allowing the extreme pressure of his suffering to corrupt his character. It advises Job to "beware lest iniquity entice you to scoff," implying that his prolonged affliction could lead him into a state of bitterness, cynicism, and open disdain for God's ways. The verse continues with "or a large ransom turn you aside," which warns against the temptation to abandon his integrity for a perceived earthly benefit or quick release from distress, implying that compromising his faith or values for an external gain would divert him from the path of righteousness and true reliance on God.

Job 36 21 Context

Job 36:21 falls within Elihu's extensive discourse, specifically as he emphasizes God's absolute power, wisdom, and justice, often using meteorological phenomena as examples. Elihu has been meticulously building his argument that God is just in all His dealings, including in the suffering of the righteous, which he interprets as disciplinary rather than punitive. In the preceding verses (Job 36:16-20), Elihu depicts God's attempts to draw Job out of distress, warning him not to harden his heart or remain in a state of resentment. This particular verse acts as a sharp personal admonition to Job, expressing Elihu's concern that Job's prolonged suffering and perceived lack of divine explanation might tempt him into deeper spiritual rebellion. Elihu views Job's persistent self-justification and questioning of God as a perilous slide towards actual wickedness. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature often addressed the dangers of various forms of evil, including mocking the divine and corruption. Elihu's polemic implicitly challenges the widespread human tendency to blame God for suffering or to seek worldly solutions and justifications that bypass true submission to divine wisdom.

Job 36 21 Word analysis

• Beware (Hebrew: הִשָּׁמֵר - hishshamer): An imperative verb, from the root shamar, meaning "to watch, guard, keep, observe." In this context, it functions as a strong, urgent warning to be exceedingly careful, vigilant, and to protect oneself from a dangerous course of action. It conveys a sense of taking heed or exercising spiritual caution.
• lest (Hebrew: פֶּן - pen): A particle used to introduce a negative purpose or an undesired outcome. It translates as "so that not," "for fear that," or "perhaps." It indicates the grave consequence that Elihu fears might unfold.
• iniquity (Hebrew: אָוֶן - aven): This term carries several layers of meaning: wickedness, trouble, sorrow, idolatry, futility, or vanity. It can describe a general state of moral depravity, something vain or useless, or suffering resulting from sin. Here, it likely refers to Job's unrighteous thoughts or the potential for them, encompassing his self-justification, bitterness, and potentially cynical attitude towards God, which Elihu perceives as inherently wrong and destructive.
• entice you to scoff (Hebrew: יְסִיתְךָ לְצֶפֶת - yesithekha letsafeth):
  • entice you (יְסִיתְךָ - yesithkha): From the verb suth, meaning "to incite, instigate, persuade, seduce, lead astray." It denotes an active, persuasive drawing towards an action, suggesting an internal or external pressure leading one to transgression.
  • to scoff (לְצֶפֶת - letsafeth): From tsaphah, primarily "to look out, watch, observe." In certain contexts, especially when associated with negative intent or attitude, it implies "to mock, to treat with scorn or contempt," often from a position of looking down or surveying cynically. Elihu fears Job will develop a scornful or rebellious attitude towards God's ways due to his trials.
• or (Hebrew: וְלֹא - velo): This conjunction serves as a disjunctive "or not," introducing a second, alternative negative consequence that Elihu warns against.
• a large ransom (Hebrew: כֹּפֶר רָב - kofer rav):
  • ransom (כֹּפֶר - kofer): A complex term. It can mean "atonement, bribe, price of life, redemption price, compensation." In this negative context, it most strongly implies a bribe or corrupting payment, a means of getting out of a situation through improper means, or a worldly settlement. It does not refer to salvific atonement here. Elihu implies Job might be tempted by a perceived escape from his suffering, a "deal" or worldly compensation, that would compromise his integrity or spiritual fidelity.
  • large (רָב - rav): Meaning "much, great, abundant." It emphasizes the significant nature of the "ransom" – either a considerable amount or a substantial perceived benefit – that would make the temptation particularly strong.
• turn you aside (Hebrew: יַטֶּה - yatteh): From natah, meaning "to stretch out, extend, incline, turn aside, deviate, mislead." Here, it signifies leading one off the correct path, distorting judgment, or causing one to swerve from moral rectitude.

Job 36 21 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "ransom," kofer, in other biblical contexts (e.g., Exo 30:12) refers to an atoning payment, a means of covering or making expiation. However, Elihu deliberately employs it here in a negative light, implying a bribe or a corrupting payment, thereby highlighting the perverse nature of the temptation. This subtly contrasts true atonement (God's provision) with a "ransom" offered by the world or sought by Job's own compromise, thus making it a perversion. The verse essentially urges Job not to seek ungodly shortcuts out of his predicament. Elihu sees Job's lamentations and questioning as a subtle form of bargaining with God, and this verse specifically calls him away from such an inclination.

Job 36 21 Commentary

Elihu's warning in Job 36:21 is a poignant spiritual caution for any person enduring profound suffering. He implies that suffering, if not rightly understood and patiently borne, can become a spiritual catalyst, not for purification, but for rebellion. He first addresses the danger of internal bitterness leading to outward disdain for God's divine will or providential actions. This "scoffing" is not merely doubt, but a contemptuous rejection or mocking of divine authority and wisdom, stemming from a hardened heart in affliction.

The second part of the warning—against being turned aside by a "large ransom"—highlights a different, yet equally perilous, temptation. It suggests the danger of spiritual compromise: trading true integrity and steadfastness in faith for a perceived temporal advantage, material gain, or an easy escape from distress. Elihu understands that the allure of quick relief, a return to comfort, or worldly prosperity can be so strong ("large") that it might tempt one to forsake their principles or reliance on God's just timing. This verse therefore calls for unyielding spiritual vigilance, not just against obvious sin, but against the more subtle enticements of despair and worldly solutions during trials. It is a timeless message: Guard your heart and integrity, for suffering has the power to either refine or corrupt, depending on your response.