The big picture
Job 27 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?”, and closes in verse 23 with “Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.” Repeated or prominent terms include Almighty, hand, hold, place, prepare. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 23Job 27:1-8
1–8: Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Job 27:1–8 opens with “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,” and reaches “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 27 develops its own movement around Almighty, hand, hold, place, prepare, with particular weight carried by soul, Almighty, breath.
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.
“Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,” Naming Job and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 27:1-8
King James Version1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
3All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Job 27:9-16
9–16: Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Job 27:9–16 opens with “Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” and reaches “Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 27 develops its own movement around Almighty, hand, hold, place, prepare, with particular weight carried by Almighty, altogether, always.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” 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 27:9-16
King James Version9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
11I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
Job 27:17-23
17–23: He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall…
Job 27:17–23 opens with “He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.” and reaches “Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 27 develops its own movement around Almighty, hand, hold, place, prepare, with particular weight carried by place, booth, buildeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Job 27:17-23
King James Version17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 27:1 begins with “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,”
Where the chapter turns
Job 27:12 forms a natural hinge: “Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?”
The final note
Job 27:23 leaves the reader with “Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Almighty, hand, hold, place, prepare, silver help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What makes the deception more than a harmless family trick?
Jacob exploits his father's blindness, impersonates his brother and invokes God while lying.
What does the family lose?
Trust, safety and proximity: Jacob must flee, and Esau carries murderous resentment.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- hath
- has
- raiment
- clothing
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.