Bible Strands
Job 34:18
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker describes God addressing human authorities, positioned between a rhetorical question about divine justice and a declaration of God’s impartiality toward all people.
The words — בְּלִיָּ֑עַל (be.li.Ya.'al) translates as worthless person, and רָ֝שָׁ֗ע (ra.Sha') means wicked [one], both applied directly to kings and nobles.
The thread — This theme intersects with passages cautioning against cursing rulers (Exodus 22:28), warning against punishing nobles for honesty (Proverbs 17:26), and instructing honor toward governing authorities (Romans 13:7).
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine judgment operates independently of human status, requiring readers to submit to God’s authority over all ranks of power.
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
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
Cross-references
- Exodus 22:28 You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Proverbs 17:26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
- Romans 13:7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- Acts 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
- Acts 23:5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
- Jude 1:8 Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
- 2 Peter 2:10 Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.