Teks -- Job 24:21 (NET)

24:21 He preys on the barren and childless woman, and does not treat the widow well.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Job 24:21 - He

He here returns to the declaration of his farther wickednesses, the cause of these judgments.

Wesley: Job 24:21 - Barren

Barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach; and so he added affliction to the afflicted.

JFB: Job 24:18-21

In these verses Job quotes the opinions of his adversaries ironically; he quoted them so before (Job 21:7-21). In Job 24:22-24, he states his own observation as the opposite. You say, "The sinner is swift, that is, swiftly passes away (as a thing floating) on the surface of the waters" (Ecc 11:1; Hos 10:7).

JFB: Job 24:18-21 - is cursed

By those who witness their "swift" destruction.

JFB: Job 24:18-21 - beholdeth not

"turneth not to"; figuratively, for He cannot enjoy his pleasant possessions (Job 20:17; Job 15:33).

JFB: Job 24:18-21 - the way of the vineyards

Including his fields, fertile as vineyards; opposite to "the way of the desert."

JFB: Job 24:21

The reason given by the friends why the sinner deserves such a fate.

JFB: Job 24:21 - barren

Without sons, who might have protected her.

JFB: Job 24:21 - widow

Without a husband to support her.

Clarke: Job 24:21 - He evil entreateth the barren

He evil entreateth the barren - I believe the original word ולה should be translated he feedeth, and so the Vulgate understood the word: Pavit enim sterilem . He has been kind to the barren woman; but he has done no good to the widow. He has shown no mercy to large families; he has been an enemy to the procreation of children. Though he may, for particular reasons, have provided for a barren woman; yet the widow he has not comforted, she being old or infirm, or such as might not suit his purpose.

TSK: Job 24:21 - evil // doeth not

evil : 1Sa 1:6, 1Sa 1:7

doeth not : Job 24:3, Job 29:13, Job 31:16-18

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Job 24:21 - He // Evil entreateth // The barren that beareth not // Doeth not good

He either,

1. God, who is oft understood, who having cut off his person, and brought him to his grave, continues his judgments upon his wife or widow, and family. Or rather,

2. The oppressor, who is the principal subject of almost all that is said in this chapter; whose great and manifold wickedness Job described from Job 24:2-18 , where he proceeds to relate the judgments of God upon him for his sins; which having done, Job 24:18-20 , he here returns to the declaration of his further wickednesses, the cause of these judgments.

Evil entreateth or feedeth upon , or devoureth , or breaketh in pieces; for all these the word signifieth, and all come to one and the same thing.

The barren that beareth not: barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach; and so he added affliction to the afflicted, whom he should have pitied and helped; but because such had no children, and the widows no husbands, to defend or avenge their cause, he exercised cruelty upon them.

Doeth not good: either,

1. He did her much wrong and harm, it being usual in Scripture under such negative expressions to contain the affirmation of the contrary; as Exo 20:7 Pro 17:21 28:21 . And so this branch answers to the former, of evil entreating . Or,

2. He afforded her no help, or advice, or comfort in her distresses; and so he intimateth the greatness of omission sins, and that the common neglect or contempt of plain and positive duties, whether of piety to God, or of charity to men, is to be reckoned among high and heinous crimes.

Haydock: Job 24:21 - Fed the barren // No good

Fed the barren. That is, the harlot. Or else, he hath fed; that is, he hath fed upon the barren; that is, the poor and desolate. (Challoner) ---

He has not had posterity, but pleasure, in view, when he married. (Rabbins) ---

Septuagint agree with the Vulgate. (Haydock) ---

But most explain the Hebrew, "He hath oppressed the barren;" which may denote those whose husband and children have been slain. (Calmet) ---

No good, but even dealt with them dishonestly. (Cajetan)

Gill: Job 24:21 - He evil entreateth the barren, that beareth not // and doth not good to the widow

He evil entreateth the barren, that beareth not,.... Here Job returns, to give some further account of the sins of some wicked men, who prosper in this world, and go through it with impunity; and speaks of such that use their wives ill because they are barren, upbraid them with it, and are churlish to them on account of it; or use them ill that they may be barren, and bear no children, having no pleasure in them, as not in vineyards, before, Job 24:18; and some interpret this of deflowering virgins, who never bore children, and of using methods to make them abortive, when with child; the word we translate "evil entreateth" sometimes signifies joining to, or being a companion of others, as in Pro 13:20; hence various senses are given; some, he joins himself to a barren woman, that he may have no children, being not desirous of any; others, he, joins himself to, and is a companion of harlots, who are commonly barren: and like the prodigal, spends his substance among them. Some interpreters take this verse and Job 24:22; as expressive of the punishment of wicked men: so Mr. Broughton renders the words, "he adjoineth the barren" ^d, and gives the sense of them thus; God sends after him a barren wife, that he shall have no help by children; but, though a numerous offspring has been reckoned an outward happiness, and not to have any an infelicity, yet it has been the case of many good men and women to be childless; wherefore love and hatred are not known hereby: besides, such a sense is contrary to the scope and design of Job, which is to prove that wicked men often go unpunished in this life; wherefore, rather the meaning is, that a wicked man uses ill such, who having not only lost their husbands, but having been barren, and so childless, have none to take their part, and to protect and defend them from the abuses of such men; the Targum renders the word, "he breaketh", and so some understand it ^e; he breaketh the barren, tears them to pieces, ruins and destroys them, as to their outward substance, because they have no children to help them; with which agrees what follows,

and doth not good to the widow; does not make her glad and cheerful, as Job did, who made the widow's heart to sing for joy, Job 29:13; does not relieve and assist her when in distress, either by counsel and advice, or by administering to her necessities; but, on the contrary, afflicts and oppresses her; takes her ox, or her raiment, for a pledge, and plunders her house, and devours the substance of it; for more is intended than is expressed.