Job 21:28
New International Version
You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great, the tents where the wicked lived?’

New Living Translation
You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.

English Standard Version
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’

Berean Standard Bible
For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

King James Bible
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

New King James Version
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’

New American Standard Bible
“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’

NASB 1995
“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’

NASB 1977
“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’

Legacy Standard Bible
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’

Amplified Bible
“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the noble man? And where is the tent, the dwelling place of the wicked?’

Christian Standard Bible
For you say, “Where now is the nobleman’s house? ” and “Where are the tents the wicked lived in? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For you say, “Where now is the nobleman’s house?” and “Where are the tents the wicked lived in?”

American Standard Version
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

Contemporary English Version
You ask, "Where is the home of that important person who does so much evil?"

English Revised Version
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
because you ask, 'Where is the house of the influential person? Where is the tent where wicked people live?'

Good News Translation
You ask, "Where are the homes of great people now, those who practiced evil?"

International Standard Version
You ask, 'Where is the noble person's house?' and 'Where are the tents where the wicked live?'

Majority Standard Bible
For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

NET Bible
For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?'

New Heart English Bible
For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'

Webster's Bible Translation
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

World English Bible
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?

Young's Literal Translation
For ye say, 'Where is the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'

Smith's Literal Translation
For ye will say, Where the house of the noble one; and where the tent of the dwellings of the unjust?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For you say: Where is the house of the prince ? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

Catholic Public Domain Version
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”

New American Bible
For you say, “Where is the house of the great, and where the dwelling place of the wicked?”

New Revised Standard Version
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For you say. Where is the house of the righteous? And where is the place in which the wicked has pitched his tent?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because you have said: ‘Where is the house of the righteous one, and what is the dwelling of the tent of the wicked?’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
27Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me. 28For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’ 29Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?…

Cross References
Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Psalm 73:3-12
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Psalm 49:16-17
Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases. / For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.

Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Luke 16:19-31
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 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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. ...

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 10:3-6
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. / He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes. ...

Proverbs 3:31-32
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; / for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.

Psalm 92:7
that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.


Treasury of Scripture

For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

Where

Job 20:7
Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Psalm 37:36
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Psalm 52:5,6
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah…

dwelling places.

Numbers 16:26-34
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins…

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Dwelling Dwellings Dwelt Evil-Doer Great House Noble Nobleman Places Prince Ruler Tabernacles Tent Tents Where Wherein Wicked
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Dwelling Dwellings Dwelt Evil-Doer Great House Noble Nobleman Places Prince Ruler Tabernacles Tent Tents Where Wherein Wicked
Job 21
1. Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7. Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16. Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21. The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27. The judgment of the wicked is in another world














For you say
This phrase introduces the words of Job's friends, who have been questioning him throughout the dialogue. In the Hebrew text, the verb "say" (אָמַר, 'amar) is often used to denote a statement or assertion. Here, it reflects the accusatory tone of Job's friends, who are challenging Job's understanding of divine justice. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief that prosperity was a sign of divine favor, while suffering indicated divine disfavor.

Where now is the nobleman's house
The term "nobleman" (נָדִיב, nadiv) refers to someone of high status or wealth. In the context of Job, this phrase questions the fate of those who are considered prosperous and influential. The "house" symbolizes stability and legacy. Archaeologically, the homes of noblemen in ancient times were often grand and well-fortified, representing their power and influence. Job's friends imply that the absence or downfall of such houses is evidence of divine judgment.

and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?
The "tents" (אֹהֶל, ohel) signify temporary dwellings, often associated with nomadic lifestyles. In contrast to the permanent "house," tents suggest a transient and unstable existence. The "wicked" (רָשָׁע, rasha) are those who live in opposition to God's laws. In the cultural and scriptural context, the wicked are expected to face divine retribution. Job's friends are questioning the apparent prosperity of the wicked, suggesting that their current state is temporary and will ultimately lead to ruin.

(28) Of the prince--i.e., of the generous, virtuous, princely man?--the antithesis to the wicked man. "Behold I know your thoughts, for ye say, How can we tell who is virtuous and who is wicked? and consequently we know not to which catalogue you belong." They had all along been insinuating that, though he seemed to be righteous, he was really wicked.

Verse 28. - For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? i.e. "What has become of the house of the powerful man (Job himself)? How is it fallen and gone to decay!" And whore are the dwelling-places (literally, the tent of the habitations) of the wicked! Again Job is intended, although the insult is veiled by the plural form being used. Job supposes that his opponents will meet his statement, that the righteous are afflicted and the wicked prosper, by pointing to his own case as one in which wickedness has been punished.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you say,
תֹֽאמְר֗וּ (ṯō·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Where
אַיֵּ֥ה (’ay·yêh)
Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

now is the nobleman’s
נָדִ֑יב (nā·ḏîḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5081: Voluntary, generous, magnanimous, a grandee

house,
בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

and where
וְ֝אַיֵּ֗ה (wə·’ay·yêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

are the tents
אֹ֤הֶל ׀ (’ō·hel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

in which the wicked
רְשָׁעִֽים׃ (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

dwell?’
מִשְׁכְּנ֬וֹת (miš·kə·nō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle


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OT Poetry: Job 21:28 For you say 'Where is the house (Jb)
Job 21:27
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