Bible Strands
Job 21:14
Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speakers address God directly, voicing their rejection during Job’s examination of the ungodly’s temporary prosperity.
The words — The Hebrew word ס֣וּר (sur) issues the command to “depart,” while חָפָֽצְנוּ (cha.Fa.tze.nu) affirms they “desire” no knowledge of His דְּ֝רָכֶ֗י/ךָ (de.ra.Khei./kha) “ways.”
The thread — This explicit dismissal repeats in Job 22:17, where the same group tells God to “depart from us,” and parallels Romans 8:7 on the flesh’s refusal to submit to God’s law and Psalms 10:4 on the wicked’s deliberate failure to seek Him.
Why it lands — The text states a direct refusal to know God’s ways, which requires readers to examine whether they treat divine instruction as an optional burden or a necessary boundary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Cross-references
- Job 22:17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
- Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
- Psalms 10:4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- Proverbs 1:29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- John 15:23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.
- 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- Psalms 10:11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
- Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.