Job 21:7 - “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
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What does "Job 21:7" mean?
Job 21:7, "Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?" expresses a profound and age-old question about the problem of evil and suffering in the world. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Job's Observation: Job is making an observation based on his own experiences and what he sees around him. He notices that often, the people who seem to be living immoral or unjust lives (the "wicked") are not punished or immediately judged by God, as one might expect if there was immediate divine justice. Instead, they often:
Live Long Lives: They reach old age, seemingly untouched by the consequences of their actions.
Grow Old: This emphasizes their longevity and continued existence.
Become Mighty in Power: They prosper, gain influence, wealth, and authority. They seem to succeed in their endeavors despite (or perhaps even because of) their wickedness.
The Question of Justice: This verse is a lament and a challenge to the conventional understanding of divine justice. The traditional view, often presented by Job's friends, was that righteousness is always rewarded, and wickedness is always punished in this life. Job's observation contradicts this neat and tidy theological framework. It raises the question: If God is just, why does he allow the wicked to prosper, to live comfortably, and to exert power over others?
The Problem of Theodicy: This verse touches on the core of theodicy, which is the attempt to reconcile the existence of a good and omnipotent God with the reality of evil and suffering in the world. If God is all-powerful, he could prevent evil. If God is all-good, he would want to prevent evil. The existence of evil, therefore, seems to challenge these attributes of God.
Job's Personal Context: It's important to remember Job's own situation. He was a righteous man who suffered greatly. He lost his wealth, his children, and his health. He was struggling to understand why God had allowed this to happen to him. His question about the wicked prospering is part of his broader search for meaning and justice in the face of inexplicable suffering. He sees the apparent contradiction in the world, which reinforces his own confusion.
A Challenge to Easy Answers: The verse serves as a challenge to simplistic answers about suffering and divine retribution. It acknowledges the complex and often frustrating reality that bad things can happen to good people, and that wicked people can sometimes seem to thrive.
In essence, Job 21:7 is a cry of frustration and bewilderment over the apparent injustice in the world. It highlights the difficulty of reconciling the belief in a just God with the reality of suffering and the prosperity of the wicked.
Job 21:7 - “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
What does "Job 21:7" mean?
Job 21:7, "Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?" expresses a profound and age-old question about the problem of evil and suffering in the world. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Job's Observation: Job is making an observation based on his own experiences and what he sees around him. He notices that often, the people who seem to be living immoral or unjust lives (the "wicked") are not punished or immediately judged by God, as one might expect if there was immediate divine justice. Instead, they often:
Live Long Lives: They reach old age, seemingly untouched by the consequences of their actions.
Grow Old: This emphasizes their longevity and continued existence.
Become Mighty in Power: They prosper, gain influence, wealth, and authority. They seem to succeed in their endeavors despite (or perhaps even because of) their wickedness.
The Question of Justice: This verse is a lament and a challenge to the conventional understanding of divine justice. The traditional view, often presented by Job's friends, was that righteousness is always rewarded, and wickedness is always punished in this life. Job's observation contradicts this neat and tidy theological framework. It raises the question: If God is just, why does he allow the wicked to prosper, to live comfortably, and to exert power over others?
The Problem of Theodicy: This verse touches on the core of theodicy, which is the attempt to reconcile the existence of a good and omnipotent God with the reality of evil and suffering in the world. If God is all-powerful, he could prevent evil. If God is all-good, he would want to prevent evil. The existence of evil, therefore, seems to challenge these attributes of God.
Job's Personal Context: It's important to remember Job's own situation. He was a righteous man who suffered greatly. He lost his wealth, his children, and his health. He was struggling to understand why God had allowed this to happen to him. His question about the wicked prospering is part of his broader search for meaning and justice in the face of inexplicable suffering. He sees the apparent contradiction in the world, which reinforces his own confusion.
A Challenge to Easy Answers: The verse serves as a challenge to simplistic answers about suffering and divine retribution. It acknowledges the complex and often frustrating reality that bad things can happen to good people, and that wicked people can sometimes seem to thrive.
In essence, Job 21:7 is a cry of frustration and bewilderment over the apparent injustice in the world. It highlights the difficulty of reconciling the belief in a just God with the reality of suffering and the prosperity of the wicked.