Job 34:26 — Word Study
WLCתַּֽחַת־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים סְפָקָ֗ם בִּמְק֥וֹם רֹאִֽים׃
BSAHe strikes themçâphaq■ [punishes, slaps] fortachath their wickednessrâshâʻ [morally wrong, sinful, as wicked men, guilty of crime or sin] in fullmâqôwm viewrâʼâh [in the open sight of others, publicly, where many people can see it]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תַּֽחַת־ | in place of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רְשָׁעִ֥ים | wicked [people] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| סְפָקָ֗ם | he slaps them | Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| בִּמְק֥וֹם | in a place of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| רֹאִֽים׃ | [those who] see | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, |
| KJV | He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; |
| ASV | He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others; |
| YLT | As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders. |
| WEB | He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others; |
| BBE | The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers. |
Translations agree on the meaning of רְשָׁעִ֥ים as wicked.
The main action is clear, with supporting phrases that explain the reason and context of the punishment.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָאָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 34:26
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Justice in the Book of Jobgenerated
Job 34:26 is part of a larger discussion about God's justice and how He responds to the wicked. The speaker emphasizes that God punishes the wicked publicly, demonstrating His authority and the consequences of moral failure. This theme resonates throughout the Book of Job, where the nature of suffering and divine justice is explored, particularly in the context of Job's own trials.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 14:30 | That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 13:9–11 | Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 21:21 | Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 12:11–12 | This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. |
| 5 | Psalm 58:10–11 | The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רְשָׁעִ֥ים, re.sha.'Imgenerated
The term רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to individuals who are wicked or guilty of wrongdoing. It conveys a sense of moral failure and is often used in contexts where individuals oppose God or act unjustly towards others.
In this verse, it describes those who have committed acts that are deemed sinful, highlighting their status as deserving punishment. The use of this term underscores the gravity of their actions and the certainty of divine retribution.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the word רְשָׁעִ֥ים is rendered as wicked, which is consistent across other translations like the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb סְפָקָ֗ם (sefaqam) governs the sentence, indicating the action of striking or punishing. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the place of punishment and a noun phrase describing the object of the action.
The word order places emphasis on the action of striking, followed by the description of the wicked and the public nature of the punishment, which is a common structure in Hebrew poetry.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Greek word ἀσεβεῖς is used to translate רְשָׁעִ֥ים, which conveys a similar meaning of being ungodly or wicked. This choice reflects a consistent interpretation of moral wrongdoing.
The Septuagint's rendering emphasizes the nature of the individuals being punished as those who act against divine standards.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 34:26 states that God punishes the wicked publicly for their wrongdoings. This verse emphasizes that their actions are seen by others, highlighting the consequences of sin and the visible nature of divine justice.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's punishment of the wicked is visible to others, serving as a warning and demonstration of His justice.
The wicked are those who have committed morally wrong acts against God or others, deserving of punishment.
The public aspect emphasizes accountability and serves as a deterrent for others who might consider similar actions.
It reflects the ongoing discussion about divine justice and the fate of the righteous versus the wicked, which is central to Job's narrative.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I see justice being served in my own life or community?
- In what ways can I ensure that my actions align with what is considered morally right?
- What can I learn from the consequences faced by the wicked in this verse?
- How does understanding God's justice affect my perspective on suffering and wrongdoing?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the understanding of God's punishment of the wicked and its implications for moral behavior.
He hath smitten them as ungodly men, in the place of beholders. In holy Scripture the word 'as,' is wont to be used, sometimes for resemblance, sometimes for reality.Early Church Fathers on Job 34 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 34:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe striketh them as wicked men,.... Such is the strict justice of God, that he never strikes men, or inflicts punishment on them, or brings down his judgments upon them, but as wicked men, and
Read John Gill on Job 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; Striketh - chasteneth. As , [ tachat (H8478)] - literally, under; i:e., because they are wicked.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 34 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs wicked men, i.e. as he useth to smite wicked men, with a grievous and terrible stroke. Compare . Or, for wicked men; or, because they are wicked men, therefore he destroys them without any regard to their quality. In the open sight of others; in public view, for their greater shame, and for the greater glory of God’ s justice, and for the greater terror of other oppressors, and comfort of the oppressed.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 34 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 34:26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;Ver. 26. He striketh them as wicked men, &c.] Complodit cos, saith Junius, scilicet ut inflatas vesicas in sun ipsorum sede, he striketh upon them, as blown bladders, in their own seat. This is an elegant similitude, setting forth the sudden overthrow of graceless great ones, as with a kind of noise, and not without public notice; for it followeth, In the open sight of others] Heb. In the place of beholders, in proscenio, as upon a stage or scaffold, Discant iustitiam moniti; et non temnere numen, others may hear and fear, and do no more so. God is pleased for this purpose to bang up some notorious offenders as it were in…
Read John Trapp on Job 34 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) He striketh them as wicked men.—Rather, in the place of wicked men he striketh them: i.e., the wicked—that is, “He executeth His judgments in the sight of all beholders, striking down wicked men in their very place, so that there can be no doubt as to who are stricken or why they are stricken.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 34 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 26. He striketh them as wicked men] At other times he executes his judgments more openly; and they are suddenly destroyed in the sight of the people.
Read AdamClarke on Job 34 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20–28. God’s strict justice may be seen in His government of the peoples and their princes alike. His justice is unerring, for it is guided by omniscient insight. Punishing oppression, it avenges the cause of the poor and afflicted.
Read Cambridge on Job 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe striketh them as wicked men - literally, “Under the wicked, or on account of the wicked, he smites them.” That is, he deals with them “as if” they were wicked; he regards and treats them as such.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 34 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
He strikes them for their wickedness, in a place where people can see,
Tyndale line
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the seers,
Strictly literal
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.
As wicked He has struck them, || In the place of beholders.
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
In the open sight of others, he kills them for their wicked deeds like criminals
From the Latin
He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.
Simplified
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show some agreement, with two of the five words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects a similar understanding of the verse's meaning, though its word order differs from the Hebrew.
תַּֽחַת־ רְשָׁעִ֥ים סְפָקָ֗ם בִּמְק֥וֹם רֹאִֽים׃
2 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 34:26
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
Prep — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word סָפַק (saphaq) has meanings related to clapping or slapping, as well as sufficiency. It can denote actions like clapping hands in various contexts, including derision or punishment, and implies satisfaction or excess. The word appears in verses such as 1 Kings 20:10 and Job 27:23.
סָפַק, [שָׂפַק], vb. slap, clap
Qal
slap
slap, chastise
splash
Hiph. and into the hands of foreigners they clap, lit. cause to clap
base
[שָׂפַק] vb. suffice;—Qal 1 K 20:10
ref
H5606a סָפַק, שָׂפַק slap, clap H5606b שָׂפַק suffice
5606 caphaq saw-fak'
or saphaq (1 Kings 20:10; Job 27:23; Isaiah 2:6) {saw-fak'};
a primitive root; to clap the hands (in token of compact,
derision, grief, indignation, or punishment); by implication
of satisfaction, to be enough; by implication of excess, to
vomit:--clap, smite, strike, suffice, wallow.
סָפַק (sa.phaq) — to slap.
1) to clap, slap
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to slap, clap
1a2) to slap, chastise
1a3) to splash, throw up
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to clap
שָׂפַק (sa.paq) — to suffice.
suffice
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqp3ms/Sp3mp
מָקוֹם (maqom) means 'place' and encompasses a variety of contexts, including a standing place, station, or post. It can refer to human abodes, localities, regions, and even figurative conditions of body or mind. The term is derived from a root meaning 'standing' and is used broadly in the Old Testament.
מָקוֹם, מָקֹם 399 n.m. standing-place, place
standing-place
station, where soldiers are placed
post, office
place where a thing belongs
esp.
place of human abode
of י׳’s abode
place
in gen. place, locality, spot
space, room
space, distance, between
region, quarter, direction
peculiar uses
base
H4725 מָקוֹם, מָקֹם standing-place, place . . standing-place
. station, where soldiers are placed
. post, office
. . place where a thing belongs
. esp. . place of human abode
. of י׳’s abode
. place
. in gen. place, locality, spot
. . space, room
. space, distance, between
. region, quarter, direction
. peculiar uses
4725 maqowm maw-kome'
or maqom {maw-kome'}; also (feminine) mqowmah {mek-o-mah'};
or mqomah {mek-o-mah'}; from 6965; properly, a standing, i.e.
a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);
also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or
mind):--country, X home, X open, place, room, space, X
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 06965
מָקוֹם (ma.qom) — place.
1) standing place, place
1a) standing place, station, post, office
1b) place, place of human abode
1c) city, land, region
1d) place, locality, spot
1e) space, room, distance
1f) region, quarter, direction
1g) give place to, instead of
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.
רָאָה 1315 vb. see
Qal 1141
see, subj.
see, c. acc. rei
see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design
see, so as to learn to know
abs. see, have (power of) vision
see = perceive
look at, see, by direct volition
of mental observation
c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
see, c. acc. rei
Niph.
appear
be seen
be visible
Pu. appar. his bones are not detected
Hithp. recipr. look at each other
Hiph.
cause one to see something, shew
cause to experience something
cause to look intently at, to behold
Hoph.
be caused to see, be shewn
be exhibited to
base
H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.
. see, c. acc. rei
. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design
. see, so as to learn to know
. abs. see, have (power of) vision
. see = perceive
. look at, see, by direct volition
. of mental observation
. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
. see, c. acc. rei
. . appear
. be seen
. be visible
. appar. his bones are not detected
. recipr. look at each other
. . . cause one to see something, shew
. cause to experience something
. cause to look intently at, to behold
. . be caused to see, be shewn
. be exhibited to
H7200b רְאוּת look
7200 ra'ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in
numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,
intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,
behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have
experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look
(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,
upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,
regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X
surely, X think, view, visions.
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.
: see/show
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish
1a6) to look at, gaze at
1a7) to provide, choose
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to appear, present oneself
1b2) to be seen
1b3) to be visible
1c) (Pual) to be seen
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to see, show
1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be caused to see, be shown
1e2) to be exhibited to
1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.
: examine/consider
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine pluralHVqrmpa
se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have
(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;