Job 29:17
New International Version
I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.

New Living Translation
I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.

English Standard Version
I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

Berean Standard Bible
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

King James Bible
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

New King James Version
I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.

New American Standard Bible
“I broke the jaws of the wicked And rescued the prey from his teeth.

NASB 1995
“I broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.

NASB 1977
“And I broke the jaws of the wicked, And snatched the prey from his teeth.

Legacy Standard Bible
I broke the fangs of the unjust And snatched the prey from his teeth.

Amplified Bible
“And I smashed the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.

Christian Standard Bible
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

American Standard Version
And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

Contemporary English Version
When criminals attacked, I broke their teeth and set their victims free.

English Revised Version
And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I broke the teeth of the wicked person and made him drop the prey out of his mouth.

Good News Translation
I destroyed the power of cruel men and rescued their victims.

International Standard Version
I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."

Majority Standard Bible
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

NET Bible
I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

New Heart English Bible
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

World English Bible
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, "" And from his teeth I cast away prey.

Young's Literal Translation
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall break the biter's teeth of the evil one, and I shall cast the prey from his teeth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.

New American Bible
And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.

New Revised Standard Version
I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and snatched the prey out of his teeth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have broken the molars of the evil man and I took the prey from between his teeth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Former Blessings
16I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger. 17I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth. 18So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.…

Cross References
Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. / Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Psalm 72:4
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. / If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

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.

Amos 5:15
Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, / to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.


Treasury of Scripture

And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

I brake

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psalm 58:8
As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Proverbs 30:14
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

jaws.

1 Samuel 17:35
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Psalm 124:3,6
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: …

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Brake Break Broke Broken Cast Drop Evil-Doer Fangs Great Jaws Jaw-Teeth Perverse Plucked Prey Snatched Spoil Teeth Unrighteous Victims Violently Wicked
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Brake Break Broke Broken Cast Drop Evil-Doer Fangs Great Jaws Jaw-Teeth Perverse Plucked Prey Snatched Spoil Teeth Unrighteous Victims Violently Wicked
Job 29
1. Job bemoans his former prosperity














I shattered the fangs of the unjust
This phrase reflects Job's role as a defender of justice and righteousness. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the imagery of "shattering fangs" suggests a powerful act of disabling a predator, symbolizing the defeat of those who exploit or oppress others. The "unjust" refers to individuals who act wickedly, often at the expense of the vulnerable. Job's actions can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate defender of the oppressed and who will one day bring perfect justice (Isaiah 11:4). The imagery of breaking fangs also connects to Psalm 58:6, where David prays for God to break the teeth of the wicked, emphasizing divine intervention against evil.

and snatched the prey from his teeth.
This part of the verse highlights Job's active intervention to rescue those who are being wronged. The "prey" symbolizes the victims of injustice, often the poor and needy, whom Job sought to protect. This reflects the biblical mandate to care for the marginalized, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which calls for speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. The act of "snatching" suggests urgency and determination, akin to the Good Shepherd in John 10:11-15, who lays down His life for the sheep, rescuing them from harm. This imagery underscores the importance of advocacy and protection for the vulnerable, a theme consistent throughout Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith.

2. The Unjust
Represents those who act wickedly or unfairly, often oppressing others for personal gain. In this context, they are depicted metaphorically as predators with fangs.

3. The Prey
Symbolizes the victims of injustice, those who are oppressed or taken advantage of by the unjust.

4. The Act of Shattering Fangs
A metaphorical expression of Job's efforts to confront and dismantle the power of the wicked, protecting the vulnerable from exploitation.

5. The Book of Job
A poetic and philosophical text in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, justice, and the righteousness of God.
Teaching Points
Righteousness in Action
Job's actions demonstrate that true righteousness involves actively opposing injustice and protecting the vulnerable. Believers are called to be proactive in their communities, standing against wrongdoing.

Moral Courage
Job's metaphor of shattering the fangs of the unjust highlights the courage required to confront evil. Christians are encouraged to be bold in their faith, trusting God to empower them to stand against oppression.

Compassion for the Oppressed
Job's defense of the prey reflects a heart of compassion. Believers should cultivate empathy and seek practical ways to support those who are marginalized or suffering.

Integrity and Influence
Job's influence in his community was rooted in his integrity. Christians should strive to maintain a reputation of honesty and fairness, using their influence to promote justice.

Divine Justice
The imagery of breaking the fangs of the wicked serves as a reminder of God's ultimate justice. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God sees and will address all acts of injustice.Verse 17. - And I brake the jaws of the wicked (comp. Psalm 58:6). It is scarcely meant, as Canon Cook supposes, that Job was himself the executioner. "Quod facit per allure facit per so." Job would regard as Age doing what he ordered to be done. And plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Either by disappointing him of a prey which he was on the verge of making ms own, or by compelling him to make restitution of a prey that he had actually laid hold of.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I shattered
וָֽ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָה (wā·’ă·šab·bə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

the fangs
מְתַלְּע֣וֹת (mə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4973: A biter, a tooth

of the unjust
עַוָּ֑ל (‘aw·wāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5767: Unjust, unrighteous one

and snatched
אַשְׁלִ֥יךְ (’aš·lîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

the prey
טָֽרֶף׃ (ṭā·rep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2964: Something torn, a fragment, a fresh leaf, prey, food

from his teeth.
וּ֝מִשִּׁנָּ֗יו (ū·miš·šin·nāw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff


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OT Poetry: Job 29:17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous (Jb)
Job 29:16
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