Job 21:7
New International Version
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

New Living Translation
“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

English Standard Version
Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

Berean Standard Bible
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

King James Bible
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

New King James Version
Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?

New American Standard Bible
“Why do the wicked still live, Grow old, and also become very powerful?

NASB 1995
“Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

NASB 1977
“Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?

Amplified Bible
“Why do the wicked still live, Become old, and become mighty in power?

Christian Standard Bible
Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?

American Standard Version
Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

Contemporary English Version
Why do evil people live so long and gain such power?

English Revised Version
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, and even become more powerful?

Good News Translation
Why does God let evil people live, let them grow old and prosper?

International Standard Version
"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?

Majority Standard Bible
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

NET Bible
"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?

New Heart English Bible
"Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why do the wicked live, become old, and, are mighty in power?

World English Bible
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why do the wicked live? They have become old, "" Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore shall the unjust live? They grew old, also they were strong in power.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?

New American Bible
Why do the wicked keep on living, grow old, become mighty in power?

New Revised Standard Version
Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why do the ungodly live, and why are the mighty in power full of years?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because, why are the wicked alive and mighty men of power growing old?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
6When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror. 7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? 8Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.…

Cross References
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. ...

Jeremiah 12:1-2
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? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

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 37:1-2
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. / For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.

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.

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.

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

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

Proverbs 24:19-20
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. / For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

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. ...

Psalm 17:14
from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

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 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 5:5
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?

Wherefore

Job 12:6
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

Psalm 17:10
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

Psalm 73:3-12
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…

mighty

Psalm 37:35
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Daniel 4:17
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Revelation 13:2-7
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority…

Jump to Previous
Age Continue Evil-Doers Grow Growing Increasing Live Mighty Power Powerful Reach Strong Wax Wealth Wherefore Wicked
Jump to Next
Age Continue Evil-Doers Grow Growing Increasing Live Mighty Power Powerful Reach Strong Wax Wealth Wherefore 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














Why do the wicked live on
The Hebrew word for "wicked" is "רְשָׁעִים" (resha'im), which refers to those who are morally wrong or guilty. In the context of Job, this term is used to describe those who defy God's laws and yet seem to prosper. The question posed by Job reflects a deep theological struggle, as it challenges the traditional belief that righteousness leads to blessing and wickedness to punishment. This phrase invites readers to ponder the mystery of divine justice and the apparent prosperity of those who live in opposition to God's will. Historically, this has been a point of contention and reflection for believers, as it seems to contradict the retributive justice expected in the ancient Near Eastern context.

growing old
The phrase "growing old" in Hebrew is "יַעֲתִיקוּ" (ya'atiqu), which implies not just aging but also enduring or continuing over time. This suggests a sense of stability and longevity that the wicked enjoy, which is perplexing to Job. In the ancient world, long life was often seen as a sign of divine favor, yet here it is attributed to those who are unrighteous. This challenges the reader to consider the complexities of life and the sovereignty of God, who allows the wicked to persist for reasons that may be beyond human understanding.

and increasing in power
The Hebrew word for "increasing" is "יִגְבָּרוּ" (yigbaru), which means to become strong or mighty. The term "power" is "חָיִל" (chayil), often associated with strength, wealth, or military might. This phrase highlights the paradox of the wicked not only living long lives but also amassing influence and control. In the historical context of Job, power was typically seen as a blessing from God, yet here it is possessed by those who defy Him. This serves as a reminder of the temporary and deceptive nature of earthly power and wealth, encouraging believers to trust in God's ultimate justice and timing.

Verse 7. - Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Job asks for an explanation of the facts which his own experience has impressed upon him. He has seen that "the wicked live" quite as long as the righteous, that in many cases they attain to a ripe old age, and become among the powerful of the earth. The great "pyramid kings" of Egypt, whose cruel oppressions were remembered down to the time of Herodotus (Herod., 2:124-128), reigned respectively, according to Egyptian tradition, sixty-three and sixty-six years(Manetho ap. Euseb., 'Chronicles Can.,' pars 2.). Rameses II., the cruel oppressor of the Jews, and the Pharaoh from whom Moses fled, had a reign of sixty-seven years ('Hist. of Ancient Egypt,' vol. 2. p. 301).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
מַדּ֣וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

do the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

live on,
יִחְי֑וּ (yiḥ·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

growing old
עָ֝תְק֗וּ (‘ā·ṯə·qū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6275: To remove, to grow old, to transcribe

and
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

increasing
גָּ֥בְרוּ (gā·ḇə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1396: To be strong, to prevail, act insolently

in power?
חָֽיִל׃ (ḥā·yil)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength


Links
Job 21:7 NIV
Job 21:7 NLT
Job 21:7 ESV
Job 21:7 NASB
Job 21:7 KJV

Job 21:7 BibleApps.com
Job 21:7 Biblia Paralela
Job 21:7 Chinese Bible
Job 21:7 French Bible
Job 21:7 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 21:7 Why do the wicked live become old (Jb)
Job 21:6
Top of Page
Top of Page