Job 9:22
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
Original Language Analysis
אַחַ֗ת
This is one
H259
אַחַ֗ת
This is one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
הִ֥יא
H1931
הִ֥יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
2 of 9
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּ֥ן
H3651
כֵּ֥ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תָּ֥ם
the perfect
H8535
תָּ֥ם
the perfect
Strong's:
H8535
Word #:
6 of 9
complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear
וְ֝רָשָׁ֗ע
and the wicked
H7563
וְ֝רָשָׁ֗ע
and the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
7 of 9
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern retribution theology assumed divine blessing followed righteousness and curse followed wickedness visibly and promptly. Job's observation that good and evil people face similar fates challenged prevailing theology, pointing toward fuller eschatological framework where ultimate justice is deferred to final judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we reconcile observable indiscriminate providence (bad things happen to good people) with confidence in divine justice?
- What does Job's perception teach about the limits of observational theology?
- In what ways does eschatological judgment vindicate God's justice despite present seeming indiscrimination?
Analysis & Commentary
Job declares divine impartiality: 'This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.' The phrase 'This is one thing' (achat hi, אַחַת הִיא) emphasizes singular, unified principle. Job asserts God 'destroyeth' (kalah, כָּלָה, completes, finishes) both 'perfect' (tam, תָּם, blameless) and 'wicked' (rasha, רָשָׁע) indiscriminately. From Job's observation, divine judgment doesn't differentiate based on righteousness.
Job's theology here is both right and wrong. He's right that God's providence doesn't mechanically reward righteousness and punish wickedness in this life—rain falls on just and unjust (Matthew 5:45). He's wrong to assume this means God doesn't distinguish or that final outcomes will be identical. Job lacks eschatological perspective—final judgment will indeed separate perfectly. But in this life, providence is inscrutable.
Ecclesiastes 9:2 echoes Job: 'All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked.' But Ecclesiastes also concludes 'God shall bring every work into judgment' (12:14). Job sees only present indiscriminate providence; fuller revelation provides future discriminating judgment. God does distinguish—but on His timeline, not ours.