That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.
Parallel translations
- WEB that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
- KJV That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
- BSB that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
- NASB “So that godless people would not rule, Nor be snares for the people.
- NLT He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.
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
God's sovereign rule restrains godless rulers so they cannot ensnare and oppress the people. His justice protects communities from tyranny.
Overview
Elihu explains the purpose behind God's governance: to prevent the godless from reigning and trapping the people in their snares. This reflects the biblical conviction that God raises up and removes rulers (Dan. 2:21) for the good of His people. It points forward to the righteous reign of Christ, the King who delivers His people from every oppressor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 29:2–12When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
- 2 Kgs 21:9But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
- Mic 6:16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people.”
- Rev 13:3–4One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
- Rev 13:11–14I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
- Hos 13:11I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
- Job 34:21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
- 1 Kgs 12:28–30So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
- Ps 12:8The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
- 2 Th 2:4–11he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
- Hos 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.
- Eccl 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
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 34:30 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.