Job 24:23

23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.

Job 24:23 in Other Translations

23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

23 He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.

23 They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.

23 They may have an illusion of security, but God has his eye on them.

23 He gives them a sense of security, so they can rely [on it], but His eyes [watch] over their ways.

Job 24:23 Meaning and Commentary

Job 24:23

[Though] it be given him [to be] in safety
Or "he gives him" ^F7, that is, it is God gives the wicked man to be in safety, notwithstanding all his wickedness; for Job, having described the wicked man, now represents him as in the greatest prosperity: safety is of God in every respect, not only the safety of good men, both in a way of providence and in a way of grace, but even of bad men; those are often preserved from the incursions and depredations of others, and their goods are kept, and they possess them in peace, and they dwell secure and confidently without care. The Vulgate Latin version is widely different,

``God gives him place of repentance, and he abuses it to pride;''

though the Targum somewhat agrees with it,

``he gives to him repentance, that he may trust, or be confident and be supported:''

so God gave space to repent to the old world; to whose case some Jewish writers apply the context, see ( Genesis 6:3 ) ( Luke 17:26 Luke 17:27 ) ;

whereon he resteth;
being in prosperity and safety, he trusts to it, and depends upon it it will ever be the case; he has much goods laid up for many years, and therefore sings "requiem" to his soul, saying, "take thine ease"; tomorrow will be as this day, and much more abundant; things will always be as they are, or better:

yet his eyes [are] upon their ways;
or, "and his eyes" ^F8, that is, the eyes of God, which are upon all men, good and bad, and upon all their ways and works; these are upon the wicked man and all his courses; not to punish him now for his sins; for, though he sees all his wicked actions, not one escapes his notice, yet he lays not folly to him, nor charges him with it, nor inflicts punishment on him for it; nay, his eyes are upon him to prosper and succeed him in all he does; which is the usual sense of the phrase, unless where there is an explanation, or anything said to show the contrary; see ( Deuteronomy 11:12 ) . Some give a different sense of the words, as that such that fear the wicked man give him gifts, that they may be in safety, in which they trust; or he gives them his hand, or his word, or both, that they shall be, on which they rely; but his eyes are upon them, watching their ways and works, to take every opportunity and advantage against them; but the former is best.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (wl Nty) "dat ei", Piscator, Mercerus, i.e., Deus, Beza, Drusius, Michaelis.
F8 (whynyew) "et ejus", Pagninus, Montanus, Bolducius, Beza, Cocceius, Schultens.

Job 24:23 In-Context

21 They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow they show no kindness.

22 But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.

24 For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

25 “If this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?”

Cross References

• 1. S Job 9:24; Amos 6:1; Job 12:6
• 2. S 2 Chronicles 16:9
• 3. S Job 10:4; Job 11:11