Job 27:17
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
Original Language Analysis
יָ֭כִין
He may prepare
H3559
יָ֭כִין
He may prepare
Strong's:
H3559
Word #:
1 of 6
properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
יִלְבָּ֑שׁ
shall put it on
H3847
יִלְבָּ֑שׁ
shall put it on
Strong's:
H3847
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
Cross References
Proverbs 13:22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.Proverbs 28:8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.Ecclesiastes 2:26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Historical Context
The transfer of wealth from wicked to righteous was a common ancient Near Eastern wisdom theme, appearing in Egyptian and Mesopotamian literature. In Israel, covenant theology promised blessing for obedience and curse for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). The expectation was that divine justice would manifest visibly in this life through material circumstances—a belief Job's experience challenges.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we maintain faith in God's justice when we see the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer?
- What does it mean to be a righteous steward of wealth, whether gained or inherited?
- How does eternal perspective change our understanding of justice when it doesn't manifest immediately?
Analysis & Commentary
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on—the verb כּוּן (kun, prepare) from v. 16 continues, but now with ironic reversal: the wicked prepares, but צַדִּיק (tsaddiq, the righteous/just) inherits. The righteous "puts on" (לָבַשׁ, lavash) the garments, and the innocent shall divide the silver—נָקִי (naqi, innocent/clean) uses חָלַק (chalaq, divide/apportion) for distributing wealth. This echoes Proverbs 13:22: "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." Divine justice transfers wealth from wicked hoarders to righteous stewards.
Job articulates the theology of retributive justice his friends have wielded against him. The principle is biblical (Proverbs 28:8, Ecclesiastes 2:26), yet Job experiences its opposite—he, the righteous, has lost wealth. This tension drives the book: traditional wisdom says the righteous prosper and wicked suffer, but Job's experience contradicts this. He affirms the principle while living its exception, creating space for God's later revelation about mystery and sovereignty.