Lexical Summary battuchoth: Assurances, confidences Original Word: בּטֻּחוֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance secure Feminine plural from batach; security -- secure. see HEBREW batach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom batach Definition security, safety NASB Translation secure (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּטֻּחוֺת noun feminine plural security, safety Job 12:6. Topical Lexicon Definition and Essence בּטֻּחוֹת denotes a state of being “secure, at ease, untroubled.” In Scripture it describes the settled confidence that seems to shield a person or group from harm. Its single biblical appearance turns the spotlight on a deceptive kind of security enjoyed by the wicked. Singular Occurrence Job 12:6 – “The tents of marauders are safe, and those who provoke God are secure; those who carry their god in their hands.” Context within Job Job’s lament contrasts his own affliction with the unruffled prosperity of those who openly defy God. The term paints the picture of brigands pitching their tents without fear of reprisal, suggesting that human observation alone can mislead: outward wellbeing does not equal divine approval. Job’s argument anticipates the book’s climax, where God clarifies that ultimate justice operates on a timetable known to Him alone. Theological Paradox of Apparent Security 1. Temporary Triumph of the Wicked Scripture repeatedly acknowledges the short-term flourishing of the ungodly, reminding readers that temporal security is neither proof of righteousness nor evidence of God’s neglect. 2. Final Reversal The Bible consistently resolves the tension by shifting attention from the present scene to the final accounting when false security collapses. Contrasting True Security Where בּטֻּחוֹת exposes the illusory safety of rebels, covenant literature celebrates genuine security found only in the Lord: The juxtaposition invites every reader to discern between fleeting ease and enduring refuge. Historical and Cultural Insight Ancient Near-Eastern societies measured security in tangible terms—land, livestock, fortified dwellings. A marauder’s undisturbed tent thus represented the pinnacle of ironic injustice: predators enjoying the very peace they robbed from others. Job’s world, much like today’s, wrestled with the scandal of prosperity unmoored from morality. Ministry Implications 1. Discipleship and Worldview Pastors and teachers can employ Job 12:6 to fortify believers against confusion when evil prospers. The passage cultivates an eternal vantage point, urging trust in God’s ultimate governance rather than immediate circumstances. 2. Evangelistic Warning The verse underlines the peril of mistaking earthly success for divine favor. “Peace and security” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) can vanish suddenly; only reconciliation with God through Christ guarantees lasting safety. 3. Pastoral Care For sufferers who echo Job’s bewilderment, this text validates honest lament while steering them toward hope in the Lord’s justice and goodness. Summary בּטֻּחוֹת serves as a scriptural mirror exposing the fragile façade of wicked prosperity. Its lone appearance encapsulates a broader biblical motif: apparent security apart from God is transient, whereas those who trust in Him possess an unshakable refuge. Forms and Transliterations וּֽ֭בַטֻּחוֹת ובטחות ū·ḇaṭ·ṭu·ḥō·wṯ ūḇaṭṭuḥōwṯ UvattuchotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 12:6 HEB: אֹֽהָלִ֨ים ׀ לְשֹׁ֥דְדִ֗ים וּֽ֭בַטֻּחוֹת לְמַרְגִּ֣יזֵי אֵ֑ל NAS: God are secure, Whom KJV: God are secure; into whose hand INT: the tents of the destroyers are secure provoke God 1 Occurrence |
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