Job 24:9
Job 24:9 in Multiple Translations
The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.
They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;
The child without a father is forced from its mother's breast, and they take the young children of the poor for debt.
Fatherless children are snatched from their mother's breasts, taking the babies of the poor as security for a debt.
They plucke the fatherles from the breast, and take the pledge of the poore.
They take violently away From the breast the orphan, And on the poor they lay a pledge.
There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor,
They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.
Some evil men snatch infants away from their widowed mothers [SYN], and they say ‘I will return your babies to you when you repay the money that I lent to you.’
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 24:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 24:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
יִ֭גְזְלוּ
מִ/שֹּׁ֣ד
יָת֑וֹם
וְֽ/עַל
עָנִ֥י
יַחְבֹּֽלוּ
יִ֭גְזְלוּ
gâzal
H1497
to plunder
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
מִ/שֹּׁ֣ד
shad
H7699
breast
Prep | N-ms
יָת֑וֹם
yâthôwm
H3490
orphan
N-ms
וְֽ/עַל
ʻûwl
H5764
infant
Conj | Prep
עָנִ֥י
ʻânîy
H6041
afflicted
Adj
יַחְבֹּֽלוּ
châbal
H2254
to pledge
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 24:9
יִ֭גְזְלוּ
gâzal
H1497
"to plunder"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This verb means to take something by force, like plundering or robbing, and is used in stories like David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. It can also mean to strip or flay something, and is often associated with violence.
Definition: 1) to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tear away, rob 1a2) to seize, plunder (with acc cognate) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be robbed 1b2) to be taken away
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear. See also: Genesis 21:25; Psalms 69:5; Psalms 35:10.
מִ/שֹּׁ֣ד
shad
H7699
"breast"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for breast, describing a woman's or animal's breast as swollen. It is used in the Bible to describe nursing or motherly care. The KJV translates it as 'breast' or 'pap'.
Definition: 1) breast, bosom, (female) breast 1a) breast (of woman) 1b) breast (of animal) 1c) breast (of both human and animal) Also means: shod (שֹׁד "breast" H7699B)
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: breast, pap, teat. See also: Genesis 49:25; Isaiah 28:9; Psalms 22:10.
יָת֑וֹם
yâthôwm
H3490
"orphan"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to an orphan or a child without a father, like in Exodus where God commands the Israelites to care for the fatherless.
Definition: an orphan, fatherless
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: fatherless (child), orphan. See also: Exodus 22:21; Psalms 10:18; Psalms 10:14.
וְֽ/עַל
ʻûwl
H5764
"infant"
Conj | Prep
This word refers to a baby or infant, specifically a suckling child who relies on its mother's milk. It emphasizes the child's dependence and vulnerability.
Definition: suckling, sucking child
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: sucking child, infant. See also: Job 24:9; Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 65:20.
עָנִ֥י
ʻânîy
H6041
"afflicted"
Adj
This word describes someone who is depressed, humble, or weak, often due to difficult circumstances, as described in the Psalms and other biblical books.
Definition: 1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched 1a) poor, needy 1b) poor and weak 1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched 1d) humble, lowly
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor. See also: Exodus 22:24; Psalms 88:16; Psalms 9:13.
יַחְבֹּֽלוּ
châbal
H2254
"to pledge"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This verb means to be in labor or to twist in pain, like a woman giving birth. It can also mean to corrupt or destroy something. In the KJV, it is translated in various ways, including 'travail' or 'corrupt'.
Definition: 1) to bind 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bind 2) to take a pledge, lay to pledge 2a) (Qal) to hold by a pledge, take in pledge, hold in pledge 2b) (Niphal) to give a pledge, become pledged
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay to (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, [idiom] very, withhold. See also: Exodus 22:25; Proverbs 20:16; Psalms 7:15.
Study Notes — Job 24:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 24:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 24:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 24:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 24:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 24:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 24:9
- Cambridge Bible on Job 24:9
- Barnes' Notes on Job 24:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 24:9
- Sermons on Job 24:9
Context — Job: Judgment for the Wicked
7Without clothing, they spend the night naked; they have no covering against the cold.
8Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.
9The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.
10Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry. 11They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nehemiah 5:5 | We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” |
| 2 | 2 Kings 4:1 | Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” |
Job 24:9 Summary
This verse, Job 24:9, is talking about how the poor and vulnerable are often treated unfairly, even to the point of having their children taken away from them. This is a sad and unjust situation, and it's something that God cares deeply about, as seen in verses like Exodus 22:22-24 and Deuteronomy 10:18. We can learn from this verse that we should care for the poor and vulnerable, and work to create a more just and compassionate society, as encouraged in verses like Amos 5:24 and Micah 6:8. By following God's commands to care for the poor and vulnerable, we can reflect His heart of love and justice, as seen in verses like Psalm 140:12 and Proverbs 21:3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of this verse in the book of Job?
This verse, Job 24:9, is part of a larger passage in which Job is describing the suffering of the poor and vulnerable, highlighting the injustices they face, as seen in verses Job 24:7-11, and warning of the consequences of such injustices, as mentioned in verses like Jeremiah 22:3 and Proverbs 21:13.
Why are the fatherless infants and nursing children being taken away?
According to the verse, the fatherless infant is snatched from the breast and the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt, indicating that even the most vulnerable members of society are not spared from the harsh realities of poverty and debt, a theme also found in Isaiah 10:2 and Deuteronomy 24:17.
How does this verse relate to God's character?
This verse, Job 24:9, and others like it, such as Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27, remind us that God is a defender of the fatherless and the poor, and that He expects His people to care for and protect these vulnerable groups, as seen in verses like Matthew 25:31-46 and Luke 4:18-19.
What can we learn from this verse about our responsibility to the poor?
This verse, Job 24:9, teaches us that we have a responsibility to care for the poor and vulnerable, and that our actions have consequences, as seen in verses like Proverbs 19:17 and Galatians 2:10, and that we should strive to create a more just and compassionate society, as encouraged in Micah 6:8 and Isaiah 58:6-12.
Reflection Questions
- How can I, as a follower of God, be an advocate for the fatherless and the poor in my community, as encouraged in verses like Isaiah 1:17 and Proverbs 31:8-9?
- What are some ways that I can help to prevent the kinds of injustices described in this verse, such as supporting organizations that care for orphans and the poor, as mentioned in verses like James 1:27 and Acts 2:45?
- How can I balance my own needs and desires with the call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in verses like Matthew 19:21 and Luke 12:33-34?
- What does this verse reveal about the heart of God, and how can I reflect that heart in my own life, as encouraged in verses like 1 John 3:17-18 and Matthew 5:7?
- How can I use my resources and influence to make a positive impact on the lives of the poor and vulnerable, as seen in verses like 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and Psalm 112:9?
Gill's Exposition on Job 24:9
They pluck the fatherless from the breast,.... Either on purpose to starve it, which must be extremely barbarous; or to sell it to be brought up a slave; or by obliging the mother to wean it before
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 24:9
Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity. Some - the wicked.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 24:9
They; the wicked oppressors, as is manifest from the following words. From the breast; either out of cruelty, not sparing poor infants, but killing them; or out of covetousness, and with design either to sell the mother, or to employ her in their work, to which they so strictly confine her, that they will not allow any of her time or strength for the suckling of her infant. Take a pledge of the poor; of which See Poole "".
Trapp's Commentary on Job 24:9
Job 24:9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.Ver. 9. They pluck the fatherless from the breast] What can be more to be pitied than a fatherless suckling? Who less to be molested or violenced than the mother doing that office to her babe? In the Parisian Massacre one of the murderers took a little one in his arms, who smiled upon him and played with his beard; yet this barbarous wretch was so far from compassion, that he wounded it with his dagger, and so cast it all gore blood into the river (Acts and Mon.). The story of the infant of the isle of Guernsey, thrown back into the fire, out of which it had sprawled, is well known. So is the savage inhumanity of that merciless Minerius, the pope’ s champion, who at Merindola, in France, cut off the paps of many which gave suck to their children; which, looking for suck at their mother’ s breasts, being dead before, died also for hunger. Well, therefore, might our Saviour say, "Beware of men," Matthew 10:17. It had been better the Indies had been given to the devils of hell, said those poor natives, than to those bloody Spaniards, who dashed the mothers in pieces upon their children, as once at Betharbel, Hosea 10:14. And take a pledge from the poor] Misery, which should beget pity in them, begetteth but audacity, and inviteth them to ruin the poor, and fill their houses with their spoils. Some render it thus, They take the poor for a pledge; sc. putting them to their ransom, and meanwhile enslaving them.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 24:9
Verse 9. They pluck the fatherless from the breast] They forcibly take young children in order that they may bring them up in a state of slavery. This verse is the commencement of a new paragraph, and points out the arbitrary dealings of oppressors, under despotic governors. Take a pledge of the poor.] Oppressive landlords who let out their grounds at an exorbitant rent, which the poor labourers, though using the utmost diligence, are unable at all times to pay; and then the unfeeling wretch sells then up, as the phrase here is, or takes their cow, their horse, their cart, or their bed, in pledge, that the money shall be paid in such a time. This is one of the crying sins of some countries of Europe.
Cambridge Bible on Job 24:9
9–12. These verses describe the miseries of another class, those who have allowed themselves to be subjected, and become serfs and bondmen attached to the estates of the rich. Probably they are but a portion of the same aboriginal tribes mentioned in Job 24:5-7.
Barnes' Notes on Job 24:9
They pluck the fatherless from the breast - That is, they steal away unprotected children, and sell them, or make slaves of them for their own use.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 24:9
Third strophe — The wretched poor are treated worse than the brute, and in the cities even, the blood of the innocent cries to God in vain, Job 24:9-12.9. They — The high-handed oppressors of whom he had spoken in Job 24:4.
Sermons on Job 24:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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What the Wall Speaks Of by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the spiritual significance of Nehemiah's rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, illustrating the need for the Lord's people to recover their testimony of |
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Law of Spiritual Increase by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the symbolism of the widow in the Bible and how it represents the church. He explains that the church is often oppressed and looked down upon |
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Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings about a mother bird teaching her baby bird to fly. He uses this story as a parable to illustrate the co |
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Koronis Conference 1970-06 2 Kings 4;1 by Neil Fraser | In this sermon, the preacher begins by referencing 2 Kings 4 and Romans 5 to illustrate the concept of debt and provision. He highlights the story of a woman who was in debt and so |
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A Pot of Oil by Joshua Daniel | This sermon delves into the story of a widow in 2 Kings 4 who faced debt and the threat of losing her sons to slavery, highlighting the importance of faith, prayer, and seeking God |
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The Forgotten Pot of Oil by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the common experience of many Christians who have a superficial knowledge of Jesus Christ. They may have made a genuine decision to receive Ch |
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Soaring 2 - Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings in the Old Testament. The story is about a little bundle that learns to fly and soar without moving its |