The big picture
Job 24 opens in verse 1 with “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor…”, and closes in verse 25 with “And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?” Repeated or prominent terms include know, light, poor, cause, clothing. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 25Job 24:1-7
1–7: Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know…
Job 24:1–7 opens with “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?” and reaches “They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 24 develops its own movement around know, light, poor, cause, clothing, with particular weight carried by Almighty, asses, betimes.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Job 24:1-7
King James Version1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
Job 24:8-14
8–14: They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for…
Job 24:8–14 opens with “They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.” and reaches “The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 24 develops its own movement around know, light, poor, cause, clothing, with particular weight carried by light, poor, abide.
Context that brings the passage to life
“They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.” The line’s distinctive content terms include embrace, mountains, rock. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Job 24:8-14
King James Version8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
Job 24:15-21
15–21: The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye…
Job 24:15–21 opens with “The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and…” and reaches “He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 24 develops its own movement around know, light, poor, cause, clothing, with particular weight carried by death, know, shadow.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dark, daytime, houses. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
Job 24:15-21
King James Version15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
Job 24:22-25
22–25: He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is…
Job 24:22–25 opens with “He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.” and reaches “And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 24 develops its own movement around know, light, poor, cause, clothing, with particular weight carried by corn, draweth, ears.
Job 24:22-25
King James Version22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 24:1 begins with “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?”
Where the chapter turns
Job 24:1 forms a natural hinge: “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?”
The final note
Job 24:25 leaves the reader with “And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?”
A word trail through the chapter
The words know, light, poor, cause, clothing, corn help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does Rebekah contribute beyond family eligibility?
Energy, hospitality and a direct decision to make the journey.
Why is the servant's retelling so long?
It presents the sequence to the family and explains why he sees divine guidance in it.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.