Job 21:16

Job 21:16 Meaning and Explanation

Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

King James Version (KJV)

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Job notes that the prosperity of the wicked is not truly in their own control, and he disowns their way of thinking.

What Does Job 21:16 Mean?

Having quoted the scorn of the wicked, Job steps back to distance himself from them. Whatever good they enjoy is not finally in their own hands; it is held by God. And Job wants nothing to do with their counsel or their attitude toward heaven.

Job's honesty about the prosperity of the wicked never becomes envy of it. He sees that their good is borrowed, not owned, and he refuses their godless reasoning. This is a crucial turn: to acknowledge that the wicked flourish is not to wish oneself among them. The faithful heart can name an injustice in the world while still saying, 'Their way is far from me; as for me, I will trust the Lord.'

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What does Job 21:16 mean?

Job notes that the prosperity of the wicked is not truly in their own control, and he disowns their way of thinking.

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