But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
Parallel translations
- WEB “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
- BSB The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
- NKJV “But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
- NASB “But the godless in heart nurture anger; They do not call for help when He binds them.
- NLT For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.
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 godless in heart store up anger and do not cry for help even when God binds them. Hardened hearts refuse to seek God in affliction.
Overview
Elihu describes the truly godless: instead of turning to God under affliction, they harbor resentment and refuse to call for help. Their suffering hardens rather than humbles them. This contrasts the proud heart with the penitent one, illustrating that the same affliction can soften or harden, and that only God's grace, fully given in Christ, turns a heart of stone to flesh (Ezek. 36:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 2:5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- Job 36:8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
- Job 27:8–10For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
- Job 15:4Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
- 2 Chr 28:13And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
- Num 32:14And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
- Job 35:9–10By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
- Ps 107:10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
- Matt 22:12–13And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
- 2 Chr 28:22And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
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 36:13 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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