Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. New Living Translation For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes. English Standard Version For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. Berean Standard Bible For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build. King James Bible Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; New King James Version For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build. New American Standard Bible “For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. NASB 1995 “For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. NASB 1977 “For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. Legacy Standard Bible For he has crushed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. Amplified Bible “For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has violently taken away houses which he did not build. Christian Standard Bible For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build. Holman Christian Standard Bible For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build. American Standard Version For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. Contemporary English Version because they cheated the poor and took their homes. English Revised Version For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up. GOD'S WORD® Translation because he crushed and abandoned the poor. He has taken by force a house that he didn't build. Good News Translation because they oppressed and neglected the poor and seized houses someone else had built. International Standard Version because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build. Majority Standard Bible For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build. NET Bible For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build. New Heart English Bible For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. Webster's Bible Translation Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build. World English Bible For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor he oppressed—he forsook the poor, "" He has taken a house away violently, "" And he does not build it. Young's Literal Translation For he oppressed -- he forsook the poor, A house he hath taken violently away, And he doth not build it. Smith's Literal Translation For he oppressed, forsaking the poor; he stripped the house and he will not build it up. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBecause he broke in and stripped the poor: he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build. Catholic Public Domain Version For, having broken in, he stripped the poor. He has quickly stolen away a house he did not build. New American Bible Because he has oppressed and neglected the poor, and stolen a house he did not build; New Revised Standard Version For they have crushed and abandoned the poor, they have seized a house that they did not build. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBecause he has thought to forsake the poor; because he has violently taken away a house which he did not build. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For he thought to forsake the poor, and a house of violence will not be built up OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. Brenton Septuagint Translation For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built it not. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked…18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading. 19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build. 20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.… Cross References James 5:1-6 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ... Proverbs 22:16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty. Amos 8:4-6 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” Micah 2:1-2 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. Isaiah 3:14-15 The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice. Habakkuk 2:6-9 Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ / Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey. / Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers. ... Jeremiah 22:13-17 “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. ... Luke 16:19-25 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ... Matthew 23:14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Psalm 10:2-9 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise. / For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. / In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God. ... Treasury of Scripture Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away an house which he built not; Because Job 21:27,28 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me… Job 22:6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Job 24:2-12 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof… oppressed. Deuteronomy 28:33 The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway: Lamentations 3:34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, he hath violently Job 18:15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. Job 24:2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. Jump to Previous Abandoned Build Builded Built Cruel Crushed Destitute Force Forsaken Forsook House Houses Oppressed Poor Seized Trouble Turning ViolentlyJump to Next Abandoned Build Builded Built Cruel Crushed Destitute Force Forsaken Forsook House Houses Oppressed Poor Seized Trouble Turning ViolentlyJob 20 1. Zophar shows the state and portion of the wickedFor he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; This phrase highlights the moral and ethical failures of the wicked, as described by Zophar in his speech to Job. The oppression of the poor is a recurring theme in the Bible, condemned in various passages such as Proverbs 14:31 and Isaiah 3:14-15. In ancient Near Eastern societies, the poor were often vulnerable to exploitation due to their lack of resources and social standing. The Law of Moses explicitly commanded care for the poor and marginalized (Deuteronomy 15:7-11), emphasizing God's concern for justice and righteousness. The forsaking of the poor indicates a deliberate neglect and abandonment, contrary to the biblical call to love one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). he has seized houses he did not build. Persons / Places / Events 1. Zophar the NaamathiteOne of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Zophar is speaking, offering his perspective on the fate of the wicked. 2. Job The central figure of the book, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and loss. 3. The Poor Represents those who are vulnerable and oppressed, often mentioned in the Bible as deserving of justice and care. 4. The Wicked In this context, those who exploit others for personal gain, particularly through unjust means. 5. Houses Symbolic of stability and security, which the wicked unjustly seize from others. Teaching Points The Consequences of OppressionOppressing the poor and seizing what is not rightfully yours leads to divine judgment. God sees and will act against injustice. The Importance of Integrity Maintaining integrity and fairness in dealings with others is crucial. God values justice and righteousness over wealth gained through exploitation. God's Advocacy for the Vulnerable God is a defender of the poor and oppressed. Believers are called to reflect God's heart by advocating for justice and supporting those in need. The Temporary Nature of Ill-Gotten Gains Wealth and security obtained through unjust means are fleeting. True security comes from living a life pleasing to God. Self-Examination and Repentance Regularly examine your actions and motives. If you find areas where you have acted unjustly, seek God's forgiveness and make amends.(19) Because he hath oppressed and forsaken . . .--For these insinuations there was not a vestige of ground, but Job formally rebuts them in Job 31Verse 19. - Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor. These charges are now for the first time insinuated against Job; later on, they are openly brought by Eliphaz (Job 22:5-9). Job denies them categorically in Job 29:11-17. They seem to have been pure calumnies, without an atom of foundation. Because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not. Another calumny, doubtless. Something like it was insinuated by Eliphaz in Job 15:28. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he has oppressed רִ֭צַּץ (riṣ·ṣaṣ) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7533: To crack in pieces [and] forsaken עָזַ֣ב (‘ā·zaḇ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit the poor; דַּלִּ֑ים (dal·lîm) Adjective - masculine plural construct Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin he has seized גָּ֝זַ֗ל (gā·zal) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1497: To pluck off, to flay, strip, rob houses בַּ֥יִת (ba·yiṯ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house he did not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no build. יִבֶנֵֽהוּ׃ (yi·ḇe·nê·hū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 1129: To build Links Job 20:19 NIVJob 20:19 NLT Job 20:19 ESV Job 20:19 NASB Job 20:19 KJV Job 20:19 BibleApps.com Job 20:19 Biblia Paralela Job 20:19 Chinese Bible Job 20:19 French Bible Job 20:19 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 20:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken (Jb) |
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