Job 22:7

7 You gave no water to the thirsty and withheld food from the famished,^[a]

Job 22:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 22:7

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink
To a weary thirsty traveller, to whom in those hot countries cold water was very refreshing, and which in desert places was not to be had in common, or any where; rich men were possessed of their wells and fountains, and were kept for their own use, and it was a kindness and favour to obtain water of them; and yet a cup of cold water is one of the least favours to be given to a poor man, and to deny it him in distress was very inhuman, and was very far from Job's character:

and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry:
bread, which strengthens man's heart, and is the staff of life, without which he cannot support; and this is not to be withheld from, but given even to an enemy when hungry; and to deny it to a poor neighbour in such circumstances is very cruel; the charge is, that Job would not give a poor hungry man a morsel of bread to eat; which must be false, being directly contrary to what he strongly asserts, ( Job 31:17 ) .

Job 22:7 In-Context

5 Isn't your wickedness abundant and aren't your iniquities endless?

6 For you took collateral from your brothers without cause, stripping off their clothes and leaving them naked.

7 You gave no water to the thirsty and withheld food from the famished,

8 while the land belonged to a powerful man and an influential man lived on it.

9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

Footnotes

• [a] Jb 31:31; Mt 10:42; 25:42