Job 22:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eliphaz accuses Job of dismissing widows with nothing and crushing orphans.
What Does Job 22:9 Mean?
Eliphaz reaches the climax of his false charges, naming the two groups Scripture most often calls God to defend: widows and the fatherless. He claims Job turned widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of orphans, the very people a righteous man was bound to protect.
The accusation is a slander, but it reveals where God's heart turns. He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, and He holds accountable those who exploit them. The irony is sharp, for Job had in fact been such a defender. For us the charge becomes a mirror: the Lord measures our righteousness in part by how we treat those who have no one else to help them.
Job 22:9 in the Original Language
almanah (אַלְמָנָה), 'widow' -- a woman without a husband's protection, whom God repeatedly names as His special concern.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 22:9
What does Job 22:9 mean?
Eliphaz accuses Job of dismissing widows with nothing and crushing orphans.