Job 34:8
Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
Original Language Analysis
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 9
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
פֹּ֣עֲלֵי
with the workers
H6466
פֹּ֣עֲלֵי
with the workers
Strong's:
H6466
Word #:
4 of 9
to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise
אָ֑וֶן
of iniquity
H205
אָ֑וֶן
of iniquity
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
5 of 9
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
וְ֝לָלֶ֗כֶת
H1980
וְ֝לָלֶ֗כֶת
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 9
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
7 of 9
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
Cross References
Psalms 1:1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.Psalms 26:4I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.Psalms 50:18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.Proverbs 13:20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.Proverbs 2:12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;Proverbs 1:15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Historical Context
Deuteronomy 13:6-8 commanded separation from those who enticed Israel to idolatry, making "walking with the wicked" a serious covenant violation. Psalm 1:1's beatitude blesses those who avoid the counsel, path, and seat of the wicked. Elihu invokes this theology but misapplies it—Job hasn't chosen wicked companions; he's suffering while maintaining righteousness. The accusation reflects how suffering can make the righteous vulnerable to false charges.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we avoid the error of judging someone's character by their circumstances rather than their actual conduct?
- What does Jesus's willingness to associate with sinners teach about the difference between ministry and moral compromise?
- How does this false accusation against Job warn us against hasty judgments of suffering believers?
Analysis & Commentary
Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. Elihu escalates his accusations, claiming Job associates with evildoers. The Hebrew halak (הָלַךְ, "goeth/walketh") appears twice, emphasizing habitual conduct rather than isolated incidents. "Company" (chever, חֶבֶר) means fellowship, partnership, or alliance. Po'alei-aven (פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן, "workers of iniquity") describes those whose occupation is wickedness, while anshei-resha (אַנְשֵׁי־רֶשַׁע, "wicked men") denotes morally corrupt individuals.
This accusation directly contradicts Job's character established in 1:1 ("eschewed evil") and maintained throughout his suffering. Elihu commits the logical fallacy of guilt by association—because Job questions divine justice (as wicked people might), he must be aligned with the wicked. This reasoning parallels the friends' earlier errors: suffering proves sin, questioning proves wickedness. Yet the prologue reveals Job's suffering validates his righteousness, not his wickedness. Ironically, Job's "companions" throughout the book are his accusatory friends, whose theology proves false (42:7). The verse demonstrates how easily suffering saints can be slandered by those who misunderstand the purposes of affliction. It anticipates accusations against Christ, who was called "friend of publicans and sinners" (Luke 7:34) precisely because He came to save the lost.