Job 21:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job poses the central question of the chapter: why do the wicked so often live long, prosperous, and powerful lives?
What Does Job 21:7 Mean?
This is the heart of Job's argument and a direct challenge to his friends' theology. They have claimed the wicked are quickly cut down. Job points to the obvious counter-evidence: many wicked people live to old age and grow mighty. The question hangs over the whole chapter.
Job dares to name a tension every honest believer feels. The Bible does not flinch from it; the psalmist confessed he nearly stumbled at the prosperity of the wicked until he entered the sanctuary and saw their end. Job's question is not unbelief but the beginning of deeper trust, for only the God of all the earth can finally answer it. The final reckoning belongs to Him, and it is sure.
Job 21:7 in the Original Language
rasha (רָשָׁע), 'wicked' -- one who is guilty before God, living in active opposition to what is right.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 21:7
What does Job 21:7 mean?
Job poses the central question of the chapter: why do the wicked so often live long, prosperous, and powerful lives?