By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
Parallel translations
- WEB “By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
- BSB Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.
- NKJV “Becauseof the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
- NASB ¶“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.
- NLT “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty.
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
The oppressed cry out under the heavy arm of mighty oppressors. Their suffering provokes loud appeals for help.
Overview
Elihu observes that multitudes cry out because of oppression and the power of the strong. This describes the genuine anguish of the afflicted in a fallen world. The verse sets up his point that mere cries of distress, without seeking God Himself, fall short, pointing ahead to the need for hearts that turn to the Maker who alone delivers and ultimately to Christ the Deliverer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Exod 2:23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
- Job 34:28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
- Neh 5:1–5And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
- Job 24:12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
- Job 12:19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
- Job 40:9Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
- Luke 18:3–7And 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.
- Ps 12:5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
- Ps 56:1–2Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
- Ps 43:2For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
- Exod 3:9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
- Ps 55:2–3Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
- Exod 3:7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 35:9 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
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.