Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Parallel translations
- WEB You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
- BSB You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
- NKJV You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
- NASB “You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of orphans has been crushed.
- NLT You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Eliphaz accuses Job of sending widows away with nothing and crushing the orphans. He charges Job with the very sins God most condemns.
Overview
Care for widows and orphans is central to biblical righteousness (Ex 22:22; James 1:27), so Eliphaz aims his accusation at the gravest social sins. The charge is false, for Job will testify he rescued the fatherless and widow (Job 29:12-13). Eliphaz's words reveal a counselor more concerned to be right than to be just toward his suffering friend.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Job 24:21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
- Job 24:3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
- Ezek 22:7In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
- Job 31:21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
- Isa 10:2To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
- Ps 37:17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
- Job 29:12–13Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
- Ps 94:6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
- Job 31:16–18If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Ezek 30:22Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.
- Isa 1:17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
- Deut 27:19Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- Exod 22:21–24Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- Isa 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- Mal 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Luke 18:3–5And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
- Ps 10:15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 22:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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