Job 24:21
New International Version
They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow they show no kindness.

New Living Translation
They cheat the woman who has no son to help her. They refuse to help the needy widow.

English Standard Version
“They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.

Berean Standard Bible
They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.

King James Bible
He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

New King James Version
For he preys on the barren who do not bear, And does no good for the widow.

New American Standard Bible
“He wrongs the infertile woman, And does no good for the widow.

NASB 1995
“He wrongs the barren woman And does no good for the widow.

NASB 1977
“He wrongs the barren woman, And does no good for the widow.

Legacy Standard Bible
He feeds on the barren woman who does not give birth And does no good for the widow.

Amplified Bible
“He preys on the barren (childless) woman And does no good for the widow.

Christian Standard Bible
They prey on the childless woman who is unable to conceive, and do not deal kindly with the widow.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They prey on the childless woman who is unable to conceive, and do not deal kindly with the widow.

American Standard Version
He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow.

Contemporary English Version
Sinners take advantage of widows and other helpless women.

English Revised Version
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
These men take advantage of childless women. These men show no kindness to widows.

Good News Translation
That happens because they mistreated widows and showed no kindness to childless women.

International Standard Version
"They prey on the barren woman, and do no favors for widows.

Majority Standard Bible
They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.

NET Bible
He preys on the barren and childless woman, and does not treat the widow well.

New Heart English Bible
He devours the barren who do not bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.

Webster's Bible Translation
He oppresseth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

World English Bible
He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Treating evil the barren [who] does not bear, "" And he does no good [to] the widow,

Young's Literal Translation
Treating evil the barren who beareth not, And to the widow he doth no good,

Smith's Literal Translation
He did evil to the barren; she will not bear: and he will not do good to the widow.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he has fed on the barren, who does not bear fruit, and he has not done good to the widow.

New American Bible
May his companion be barren, unable to give birth, may his widow not prosper!

New Revised Standard Version
“They harm the childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
An evil barren woman shall never bear; they do not good to the widow.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The barren evil woman shall not bear; they have not done good to the widow
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; And doeth not good to the widow.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: Judgment for the Wicked
20The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree. 21They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow. 22Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.…

Cross References
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.

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

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.

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.

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? ...

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.

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.

Ezekiel 22:7
Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed.

Zechariah 7:9-10
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Deuteronomy 27:19
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Exodus 22:22-24
You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. / If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. / My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

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.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...

1 Timothy 5:3-4
Honor the widows who are truly widows. / But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.


Treasury of Scripture

He evil entreats the barren that bears not: and does not good to the widow.

evil

1 Samuel 1:6,7
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb…

doeth not

Job 24:3
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

Job 29:13
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

Job 31:16-18
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; …

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Barren Bear Beareth Child Childless Despoileth Devoureth Devours Evil Feed Good Kind Kindness Oppresseth Pity Prey Show Shows Treating Widow Wrongs
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Barren Bear Beareth Child Childless Despoileth Devoureth Devours Evil Feed Good Kind Kindness Oppresseth Pity Prey Show Shows Treating Widow Wrongs
Job 24
1. Wickedness often goes unpunished
17. There is a secret judgment for the wicked














They prey
The Hebrew root for "prey" is "טרף" (taraph), which conveys a sense of tearing apart or devouring. This word paints a vivid picture of the ruthless and predatory nature of the wicked, who exploit the vulnerable. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this term would evoke images of wild animals attacking their prey, highlighting the brutality and mercilessness of those who take advantage of the defenseless.

on the barren and childless woman
In ancient times, barrenness was often seen as a curse or a sign of divine displeasure. The Hebrew word for "barren" is "עקרה" (aqarah), which refers to a woman unable to bear children. Childlessness left women particularly vulnerable, as they lacked the social and economic security that children provided. The phrase underscores the heartlessness of those who exploit such women, emphasizing their disregard for the suffering and social stigma these women already endure.

and show no kindness
The Hebrew word for "kindness" is "חסד" (chesed), a rich term that encompasses love, mercy, and faithfulness. It is often used to describe God's covenantal love for His people. The absence of "chesed" in the actions of the wicked highlights their moral and spiritual bankruptcy. In a society where community and mutual support were vital, failing to show "chesed" was a grave moral failing, reflecting a heart far from God.

to the widow
Widows were among the most vulnerable members of ancient society, often left without a means of support or protection. The Hebrew word "אלמנה" (almanah) refers to a woman who has lost her husband. Scripture frequently commands care for widows, reflecting God's heart for justice and compassion (e.g., Deuteronomy 10:18, James 1:27). The mistreatment of widows is a recurring theme in the Bible, symbolizing a broader neglect of justice and mercy. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of the call to protect and provide for those who cannot defend themselves, aligning with the broader biblical mandate to care for the marginalized.

Verse 21. - He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not. Oppressors of another class are perhaps here spoken of, or perhaps there is a mere return to the idea with which Job's enumeration opened (ver. 3), which was the oppression of the weaker and more defenceless classes. As barrenness in women was considered the greatest possible misfortune (1 Samuel 1:5-8; 1 Samuel 3:1-10), so oppressing one that was barren indicated extreme cruelty. And doeth not good to the widow; i.e. neglects to vindicate her cause - an admitted part of man's duty (see Job 22:9; Job 29:13; Job 31:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They prey
רֹעֶ֣ה (rō·‘eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

on the barren
עֲ֭קָרָה (‘ă·qā·rāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6135: Sterile

and childless,
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and show no
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

kindness
יְיֵטִֽיב׃ (yə·yê·ṭîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

to the widow.
וְ֝אַלְמָנָ֗ה (wə·’al·mā·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place


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OT Poetry: Job 24:21 He devours the barren who don't bear (Jb)
Job 24:20
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