Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
Parallel translations
- WEB Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty? —
- BSB Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
- NKJV Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
- NASB “Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
- NLT Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
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
Elihu argues that one who hates justice could not govern the world, so it is wrong to condemn the righteous and mighty God. It defends God's perfect justice.
Overview
Elihu reasons that the very order of the world depends on a just ruler; a God who hated justice could not sustain it. Therefore Job is wrong to charge the righteous and mighty God with injustice. The argument rightly upholds God's righteousness, a truth fully displayed at the cross, where God remains 'just and the justifier' of those who trust in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 23:3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
- Job 40:8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
- Rom 9:14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
- Gen 18:25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
- Rom 3:5–7But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
- Job 1:22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
- 2 Sam 19:21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?
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 34:17 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.