Job 34:17

Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — A speaker in a discourse addresses listeners debating divine justice, urging them to hear his argument before claiming God contradicts His own standards or judges rulers.

The words — שׂוֹנֵא (so.Ne') means "hates," and תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ (tar.Shi.a') means "will you condemn as guilty."

The thread — The rejection of perverting justice and the denial that God would condemn the righteous appears in Genesis 18:25 and Job 40:8, while 2 Samuel 23:3 describes the standard of righteous governance that aligns with this principle.

Why it lands — It demands the reader accept that divine rule cannot operate against justice or condemn the righteous, requiring a shift from judging God’s actions to acknowledging His consistent standard.

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

הַאַ֬ףha./'Af¿/ also שׂוֹנֵ֣אso.Ne'[one who] hates מִשְׁפָּ֣טmish.Pat<of> justice יַחֲב֑וֹשׁya.cha.Vo.oshwill he govern וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ or?צַדִּ֖יקtza.Dik[the] righteous [one]כַּבִּ֣ירka.Bir[the] mighty [one]תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ׃tar.Shi.a'will you condemn as guilty

King James Version

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

Cross-references

Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
Job 40:8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
Romans 9:14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!
Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.
Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
2 Samuel 19:21 But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”