Job 24:21
He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
Original Language Analysis
רֹעֶ֣ה
He evil entreateth
H7462
רֹעֶ֣ה
He evil entreateth
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
1 of 7
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
עֲ֭קָרָה
the barren
H6135
עֲ֭קָרָה
the barren
Strong's:
H6135
Word #:
2 of 7
sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵלֵ֑ד
that beareth
H3205
תֵלֵ֑ד
that beareth
Strong's:
H3205
Word #:
4 of 7
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
Historical Context
Childless women and widows lacked male protection in patriarchal society, making them targets for economic exploitation—land seizures, unfair wages, denial of inheritance rights. Ancient Near Eastern law codes (including Mosaic Law) protected these classes precisely because they were so vulnerable to abuse.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's fierce protection of widows, orphans, and the vulnerable challenge contemporary Christian engagement with social justice?
- In what ways might we 'evil entreat the barren' today—exploiting those whose suffering already isolates them?
- How does James 1:27 ('Pure religion... is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction') apply Job's concerns to Christian practice?
Analysis & Commentary
He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not—Job catalogs the wicked's cruelty toward society's vulnerable. "Evil entreateth" (ra'ah, רָעָה) means to treat badly, abuse, or oppress. The "barren" (aqarah, עֲקָרָה) suffered profound shame in ancient Near Eastern culture where childlessness marked divine disfavor (see Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:6-7; Elizabeth, Luke 1:25). Exploiting the childless woman's vulnerability—she lacked sons to defend her or provide in old age—exemplified covenant-breaking cruelty.
And doeth not good to the widow—The widow (almanah, אַלְמָנָה) represents Scripture's paradigmatic vulnerable person alongside orphans and foreigners. Mosaic Law mandated widow protection (Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 24:17-21), but Job observes such laws violated with impunity. God identifies as "judge of... the widows" (Psalm 68:5), yet Job questions why divine judgment delays. Jesus later condemned religious leaders who "devour widows' houses" (Mark 12:40), showing this oppression persisted.