Job 24:12
From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.
From the city
The phrase "From the city" suggests a setting of urban life, where the hustle and bustle often mask the suffering within. In ancient times, cities were centers of commerce, power, and often, moral decay. The Hebrew word for city, "עִיר" (ir), can denote a place of refuge or a hub of human activity. Historically, cities like Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their wickedness, and Job's reference here may imply a critique of societal structures that perpetuate injustice.

men groan
The word "groan" in Hebrew is "נְאָקָה" (ne'aqah), which conveys a deep, guttural sound of distress. This groaning is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional, reflecting the profound suffering and oppression experienced by the inhabitants. The groaning of men in the city highlights the pervasive nature of injustice and the human condition's fallen state, echoing the cries of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 2:23).

and the souls of the wounded cry out
The "souls of the wounded" refers to those who have been deeply hurt, both physically and spiritually. The Hebrew word for soul, "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh), encompasses the entire being, indicating that the suffering is holistic. The "wounded" are not just those injured in body but also those crushed in spirit. Their cry is a plea for justice and deliverance, reminiscent of the psalmist's cries for help (Psalm 34:17).

yet God charges no one with wrongdoing
This phrase presents a theological challenge, as it seems to suggest divine inaction in the face of human suffering. The Hebrew word for "charges," "שִׂים" (sim), means to place or appoint, implying that God does not hold anyone accountable for the injustices observed. This can be perplexing, but it underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and mystery in the Book of Job. It invites readers to trust in God's ultimate justice and timing, even when immediate circumstances seem unjust.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and questions the justice of God.

2. The City
Represents human civilization and society, where injustice and suffering are prevalent.

3. The Groaning Men
Symbolize those who suffer under oppression and injustice within society.

4. The Wounded Souls
Those who are deeply hurt and cry out for justice and relief.

5. God
The sovereign deity who, in this context, appears to allow suffering and injustice to persist without immediate intervention.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Suffering
Acknowledge that suffering and injustice are real and present in the world, as seen in the groans and cries from the city.

God's Sovereignty and Justice
Trust in God's ultimate justice, even when it seems delayed. His ways and timing are beyond human understanding.

Empathy and Action
As Christians, we are called to empathize with those who suffer and to be agents of justice and comfort in a broken world.

The Mystery of Divine Silence
Understand that God's silence does not equate to His absence. He is present and working in ways we may not perceive.

Hope in Redemption
Hold onto the hope of redemption and restoration, knowing that God will ultimately right all wrongs.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Job 24:12 challenge our understanding of God's justice and timing?

2. In what ways can we, as Christians, respond to the cries of the wounded and oppressed in our communities?

3. How do the themes in Job 24:12 relate to the broader account of suffering and redemption in the Bible?

4. What can we learn from Job's response to suffering that can be applied to our own lives?

5. How do other scriptures, such as those in Psalms and Revelation, provide a fuller picture of God's response to human suffering?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 10
This Psalm echoes the theme of the apparent silence of God in the face of wickedness and suffering, questioning why God seems distant in times of trouble.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
Reflects on the oppression seen under the sun, where the oppressed have no comforter, similar to the cries of the wounded in Job 24:12.

Habakkuk 1:2-4
The prophet Habakkuk questions God about the prevalence of injustice and violence, paralleling Job's observations.

Romans 8:22-23
Speaks of the whole creation groaning as it waits for redemption, connecting to the groaning of men in Job 24:12.

Revelation 6:9-10
The souls of the martyrs cry out for justice, similar to the wounded souls in Job 24:12.
The Bitter Cry of the CityW.F. Adeney Job 24:12
The Groans of the CityAlfred Bowen Evans.Job 24:12
Examples of God's Incomprehensible DealingsE. Johnson Job 24:1-12
Apparent Anomalies in the Divine JudgmentR. Green Job 24:1-22
Consideration for OthersJ. Ruskin.Job 24:1-25
Great Crimes not Always Followed by Great Punishment in This LifeHomilistJob 24:1-25
People
Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Attention, Charges, Cries, Crieth, Cry, Crying, Death, Doesn't, Dying, Enmity, Folly, Groan, Impiety, Imputeth, Layeth, Note, Ones, Pain, Pay, Pays, Pierced, Populous, Praise, Prayer, Regard, Regardeth, Rise, Soul, Souls, Sounds, Town, Unseemliness, Wounded, Wrongdoing, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 24:12

     5562   suffering, innocent

Job 24:1-12

     5339   home
     5554   status

Job 24:2-12

     5972   unkindness

Library
Whether the Husband Can on his Own Judgment Put Away his Wife on Account of Fornication?
Objection 1: It would seem that the husband can on his own judgment put away his wife on account of fornication. For when sentence has been pronounced by the judge, it is lawful to carry it out without any further judgment. But God, the just Judge, has pronounced this judgment, that a husband may put his wife away on account of fornication. Therefore no further judgment is required for this. Objection 2: Further, it is stated (Mat. 1:19) that Joseph . . . being a just man . . . "was minded to put"
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether to be Eternal Belongs to God Alone?
Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong to God alone to be eternal. For it is written that "those who instruct many to justice," shall be "as stars unto perpetual eternities [*Douay: 'for all eternity']" (Dan. 12:3). Now if God alone were eternal, there could not be many eternities. Therefore God alone is not the only eternal. Objection 2: Further, it is written "Depart, ye cursed into eternal [Douay: 'everlasting'] fire" (Mat. 25:41). Therefore God is not the only eternal. Objection 3: Further,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether in Hell the Damned are Tormented by the Sole Punishment of Fire?
Objection 1: It would seem that in hell the damned are tormented by the sole punishment of fire; because Mat. 25:41, where their condemnation is declared, mention is made of fire only, in the words: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire." Objection 2: Further, even as the punishment of purgatory is due to venial sin, so is the punishment of hell due to mortal sin. Now no other punishment but that of fire is stated to be in purgatory, as appears from the words of 1 Cor. 3:13: "The fire
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members of the Household?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law set forth unsuitable precepts about the members of the household. For a slave "is in every respect his master's property," as the Philosopher states (Polit. i, 2). But that which is a man's property should be his always. Therefore it was unfitting for the Law to command (Ex. 21:2) that slaves should "go out free" in the seventh year. Objection 2: Further, a slave is his master's property, just as an animal, e.g. an ass or an ox. But it is commanded (Dt.
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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