Job 34:19

who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Elihu addresses Job and his companions during his second speech (Job 32–37), responding to their debates about divine justice.

The words — נָשָׂא פְּנֵי (na.Sa' pe.Nei) = lifts up the faces [shows partiality]; נִכְּרָה (ni.kar-) = regards [shows preference].

The thread — The text claims God shows no partiality to princes or the wealthy because all people are equally His creation. This impartiality theme reappears in Deuteronomy 10:17 and Acts 10:34, while James 2:5 notes God's choice of the poor to be rich in faith.

Why it lands — It requires readers to abandon reliance on social or economic status when evaluating God's actions, since every person shares the same created origin.

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

אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherwho לֹֽא־lo'-not נָשָׂ֨א׀na.Sa'he lifts up פְּנֵ֥יpe.Nei[the] faces of שָׂרִ֗יםsa.Rimprinces וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not נִכַּר־ni.kar-he regards שׁ֭וֹעַSho.a'a rich person לִפְנֵי־li/f.nei-<to>/ before דָ֑לDala poor [person]כִּֽי־ki-for מַעֲשֵׂ֖הma.'a.Seh[are the] work of יָדָ֣יוya.Da/vhands/ his כֻּלָּֽם׃ku.La/mall of/ them

King James Version

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.
Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Leviticus 19:15 You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
2 Chronicles 19:7 And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
Galatians 2:6 But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.