Job 35:9 Meaning and Explanation
“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elihu observes how the oppressed cry out beneath the heavy hand of the powerful.
What Does Job 35:9 Mean?
Elihu turns to a familiar scene: the weak groaning under the weight of the strong. Under many oppressions the afflicted cry aloud, lifting their voices against 'the arm of the mighty.' He raises this not to deny their pain but to examine how such cries are made — whether they truly seek God, or merely protest their misery.
The verse holds real compassion for the suffering, for God is no stranger to the cry of the oppressed; He heard Israel groaning in Egypt and 'came down to deliver them' (Exodus 3:8). Yet Elihu prepares to ask a searching question of the human heart: in our pain, do we cry out to be rescued, or do we cry out to the One who rescues? The answer shapes whether the cry rises as prayer or only as complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 35:9
What does Job 35:9 mean?
Elihu observes how the oppressed cry out beneath the heavy hand of the powerful.