Job 34:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Elihu notes that it is unseemly to call even a king wicked, pointing toward how much more so to accuse God.
What Does Job 34:18 Mean?
Elihu builds an argument from lesser to greater. If it is unfitting to denounce a king as 'wicked' or princes as 'ungodly' -- to revile those set in authority -- how much more unfitting to level such charges at God? He prepares the way for the climactic point about God's supreme impartiality in the next verse.
The reverence due to rightful authority is, in Scripture, a reflection of the deeper reverence due to God. We are counseled to honor those in office and not to revile them lightly. Yet all earthly authority is a faint shadow of the One who reigns over all. If restraint befits our speech toward princes, far greater awe befits our words about the King of kings, before whom every tongue will give account.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 34:18
What does Job 34:18 mean?
Elihu notes that it is unseemly to call even a king wicked, pointing toward how much more so to accuse God.