Job 24:14

Authorized King James Version

PDF

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

Original Language Analysis

לָא֡וֹר with the light H216
לָא֡וֹר with the light
Strong's: H216
Word #: 1 of 9
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
יָ֘ק֤וּם rising H6965
יָ֘ק֤וּם rising
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 2 of 9
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
רוֹצֵ֗חַ The murderer H7523
רוֹצֵ֗חַ The murderer
Strong's: H7523
Word #: 3 of 9
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e., kill (a human being), especially to murder
יִֽקְטָל killeth H6991
יִֽקְטָל killeth
Strong's: H6991
Word #: 4 of 9
properly, to cut off, i.e., (figuratively) put to death
עָנִ֥י the poor H6041
עָנִ֥י the poor
Strong's: H6041
Word #: 5 of 9
depressed, in mind or circumstances
וְאֶבְי֑וֹן and needy H34
וְאֶבְי֑וֹן and needy
Strong's: H34
Word #: 6 of 9
destitute
וּ֝בַלַּ֗יְלָה and in the night H3915
וּ֝בַלַּ֗יְלָה and in the night
Strong's: H3915
Word #: 7 of 9
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
יְהִ֣י H1961
יְהִ֣י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 8 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כַגַּנָּֽב׃ is as a thief H1590
כַגַּנָּֽב׃ is as a thief
Strong's: H1590
Word #: 9 of 9
a stealer

Analysis & Commentary

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy—Job catalogs violent crimes beginning at dawn. The Hebrew rotseach (רֹצֵחַ, murderer) refers to premeditated killing, distinct from accidental manslaughter. The phrase "rising with the light" (יָקוּם לָאוֹר) depicts predators who hunt at daybreak when victims are vulnerable. Job's point cuts deep: the wicked exploit the defenseless poor (ani, עָנִי) and needy (evyon, אֶבְיוֹן)—those without social protection. This contradicts the retribution theology Job's friends espouse.

In the night is as a thief—The same murderer operates nocturnally as a thief (gannav, גַּנָּב). Job challenges divine justice by noting that oppressors function openly by day and covertly by night, yet prosper unpunished. This anticipates Jesus's teaching that thieves come "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10), though Christ offers abundant life. Job's lament forces us to confront theodicy: Why does God permit the violent to thrive while the righteous suffer?

Historical Context

Job 24 forms part of Job's final response to Eliphaz (chapters 23-24), composed around 2000-1800 BC during the patriarchal period. Job catalogues social injustices—murder, theft, adultery, oppression of widows and orphans—that go unpunished, directly challenging the retribution principle that suffering always indicates sin. In the Ancient Near East, dawn raids on vulnerable populations were common in tribal conflicts, and night theft plagued agrarian societies lacking modern security.

Questions for Reflection