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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Job 21:7-16

JOB—NOTE ON Job 21:7 Job argues that, contrary to what his friends have been saying (e.g., Job 18:5), the wicked often prosper and their offspring flourish (compare Psalms 73:1).

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See also Job 21:7-16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 21:7. _WHEREFORE DO THE WICKED LIVE_] You have frequently asserted that the wicked are invariably punished in this life; and that the righteous are ever distinguished by the strongest marks...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEREFORE DO THE WICKED LIVE? - Job comes now to the main design of his argument in this chapter, to show that it is a fact, that the wicked often have great prosperity; that they are not treated in t...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 JOB'S REPLY _ 1. Hear my solemn words--then mock on (Job 21:1)_ 2. His testimony concerning the experiences of the wicked (Job 21:7) 3. Your answers are nothing but falsehoods (Job 21:27...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB 21. JOB'S REPLY. Zophar was graphic and vigorous, but had nothing to say. Nevertheless his speech suggests to Job his next argument. The facts are quite the opposite of what Zophar has said: the w...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The mystery is, Why do the wicked prosper? They live long, they see their children grow up, and their homes are peaceful (Job 21:7). Their cattle thrives (Job 21:10). Their children and they pass a mi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Wherefore do the wicked live_ The question scarcely means, How is it, if your principles be true, that the wicked live? Job's mind is engrossed with the great problem itself, and he asks, Why in the...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This great mystery of the prosperity of the wicked in God's providence Job now unfolds on both its sides: first, they and all belonging to them prosper, and they die in peace, although in conscious go...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MARK ME, AND BE ADMONISHED, &C.— The coldest reader cannot be insensible of the beauties of the poetry in this speech of Job. We will not, therefore, attempt to point them out, but attend to the threa...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. The wicked enjoy great peace and plenty. (Job 21:7-16) TEXT 21:7-16 7 WHEREFORE DO THE WICKED LIVE, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power? 8 Then- seed is established with them in their sight,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _WHEREFORE DO THE WICKED LIVE, BECOME OLD, YEA, ARE MIGHTY IN POWER?_ Wherefore do the wicked live. The answer is (Romans 2:4; 1 Timothy 1:16; Psalms 73:18;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB'S SIXTH SPEECH Zophar, like the other friends, had insisted on the certain retribution for sin which befalls the wicked in this life. Now at length these views draw from Job a direct contradictio...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 21 JOB REPLIES TO ZOPHAR’S...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Job described the good lives of some evil people. Previously, Job had lived a good life like this. He had many animals. And he had many children. And Job’s own children enjoyed their parties. Job was...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם ־גָּ֥בְרוּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XVIII. ARE THE WAYS OF THE LORD EQUAL? Job 21:1 Job SPEAKS WITH less of personal distress and a more collected mind than before Job begins a reply to Zophar. His brave hope of vindication has forti...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “SHALL ANY TEACH GOD?” Job 21:1 After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here, as in the first cycle, Job answered not merely Zophar, but the whole argument. First of all, he set over against their statement and illustrations the fact patent to all that often the wicked ar...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Wherefore do the wicked (d) live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? (d) Job proves against his adversaries that God does not punish the wicked immediately, but often gives them long life and pros...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Riches. This is what fills me with great anxiety. Yet it quite destroys the force of your argument, (Calmet) since you pretend that the prosperity of the wicked is never of long duration. We see them...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (7) В¶ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Job in this verse reminds his friends of the very different state of the wicked. It is as if he had said, If according to you...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4 THROUGH 31. As to the friends of Job, they do not call for any extended remarks. They urge the doctrine that God's earthly government is a full measure and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHEREFORE DO THE WICKED LIVE,.... Which question is put either to God himself, as not knowing ow to account for it, or to reconcile it to his divine perfections; that he, a holy, just, and righteous B...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Ver. 7. _Wherefore do the wicked live, become old_] _Vivunt, veteraseunt,_ they are lively and longlived, so that they outlast many...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Wherefore do the wicked live?_ That is, long and happily: _become old?_ Namely, in their prosperous state: _yea, are mighty in power?_ Are preferred to places of authority and trust, and not only mak...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JOB POINTS OUT THE DIFFERENCE IN CALAMITIES BEFALLING MEN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Whereas Zophar had maintained that they die early, 20:5, Job here states that they live on, that they reach a ripe old age, that the...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB SILENCES ZOPHAR (vv.1-34). The callous cruelty of Zophar's speech would surely cause some men to be bitterly angry, but while Job was incensed by such treatment, he did not lose his temper. He...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "WHY DO THE WICKED STILL LIVE": Right here Job begins his attack upon the erroneous views of his friends. Zophar had argued that the wicked perish like dung (Job 20:7), Job counters, "No, they continu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-16 Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    He expostulates this matter partly with his friends, If things be as you say, how comes this to pass, &c? partly with God himself, Wherefore doth the righteous God distribute things so unequally? THE...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 21:7 wicked H7563 live H2421 (H8799) old H6275 (H8804) mighty H1396 (H8804) power H2428 Wherefore -...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Job's answer to Zophar in which he denies any secret sin. CHARACTERS: God, Job, three friends. CONCLUSION: The providences of God in the government of this world are sometimes hard to be u...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 21:2. _Consolations._ נחם _nicham,_ though mostly translated consolation, comfort &c., as in Isaiah 40:1; is in several places understood of a change of mind, or of repentance. So in Judges 21., w...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Wherefore do the wicked live?_ REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE WICKED ON EARTH I. As witnesses to attest. 1. The amount of freedom with which man is endowed. How free is man compared to everything...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But Job answered and said._ JOB’S THIRD ANSWER There is more logic and less passion in this address than in any of Job’s preceding speeches. He felt the dogma of the friends to be opposed-- I. To...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _JOB’S REPLY TO ZOPHAR’S SECOND SPEECH_ The ungodly, instead of experiencing the miseries indicated by Zophar, often, perhaps generally, enjoy continued ease and prosperity in this life. I. INTRODUC...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 21:1 Job answers Zophar, as he had answered Bildad, in a single not very lengthy chapter. After a few caustic introductory remarks (verses 2-4), he takes up the challenge which Zophar...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    By Chuck Smith This time shall we turn to the book of Job, chapter 21. Zophar has just concluded in chapter 20 his second speech in which, again, he sort of just gives some of the traditions and quote...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Daniel 4:17; Habakkuk 1:15; Habakkuk 1:16; Jeremiah 12:1; Job 12:6;...

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