Job 36:17

But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Elihu addresses Job immediately after describing God’s rescue from distress and the promise of abundance, right before warning against the danger of riches and bribes.

The words — The Hebrew מָלֵ֑אתָ (ma.Le.ta) literally means "you are full," indicating saturation with deserved penalty, while יִתְמֹֽכוּ (yit.Mo.khu) means "they take hold of," portraying judgment and justice as forces that actively grasp the recipient.

The thread — This motif of inescapable divine judgment against the wicked runs through Romans 1:32, which states that those who practice such things are worthy of death, and Revelation 18:4, which commands God’s people to separate themselves to avoid sharing in the coming judgments.

Why it lands — The passage states that God’s justice actively pursues the wicked despite temporary relief, requiring the reader to reject financial lures and recognize that preserved comfort does not exempt one from divine reckoning.

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

וְדִין־ve./din-and/ judgment of רָשָׁ֥עra.Sha'[the] wicked מָלֵ֑אתָma.Le.tayou are full דִּ֖יןdinjudgment וּמִשְׁפָּ֣טu./mish.Patand/ justice יִתְמֹֽכוּ׃yit.Mo.khuthey take hold of [you]

King James Version

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

Cross-references

Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
Revelation 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
Job 16:5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
Job 22:11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
Job 34:8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
Job 34:36 If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.