Job 24:22
He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
Original Language Analysis
וּמָשַׁ֣ךְ
He draweth
H4900
וּמָשַׁ֣ךְ
He draweth
Strong's:
H4900
Word #:
1 of 7
to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
בְּכֹח֑וֹ
with his power
H3581
בְּכֹח֑וֹ
with his power
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
3 of 7
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
יָ֝ק֗וּם
he riseth up
H6965
יָ֝ק֗וּם
he riseth up
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
4 of 7
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וְֽלֹא
H3808
וְֽלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Historical Context
The 'mighty' in ancient Near Eastern contexts included kings, military leaders, and wealthy landowners who wielded power often oppressively. Job's acknowledgment that God ultimately controls even these powerful figures reflects monotheistic faith in divine sovereignty over human affairs, contrasting with polytheistic beliefs in multiple competing deities.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's ultimate control over 'the mighty' comfort those currently oppressed by powerful systems or individuals?
- What does 'no man is sure of life' when God rises in judgment teach about the fleeting nature of earthly security?
- How should the certainty of God's eventual judgment against the wicked affect our response to present injustice?
Analysis & Commentary
He draweth also the mighty with his power—The syntax shifts; "he" likely refers to God (though some interpret it as the wicked tyrant). The verb "draweth" (mashak, מָשַׁךְ) means to pull, drag, or extend, suggesting God's sovereign control even over "the mighty" (abbirim, אַבִּירִים)—powerful oppressors. This echoes Job's earlier confession: "With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding" (Job 12:13). God's power exceeds all human might.
He riseth up, and no man is sure of life—When God "rises up" (qum, קוּם) to act in judgment, no one's life is secure. The phrase "no man is sure" uses lo ya'amin (לֹא יַאֲמִין), meaning "does not trust" or "cannot be confident." This anticipates Amos 5:18-20's warning that "the day of the LORD" brings judgment, not deliverance, for the wicked. Job affirms God's ultimate sovereignty but struggles with why He delays rising up against injustice.