Job 20:19
Job 20:19 in Multiple Translations
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
For they have oppressed and abandoned the poor; they have seized houses they did not build.
For he hath vndone many: he hath forsaken the poore, and hath spoyled houses which he builded not.
For he oppressed — he forsook the poor, A house he hath taken violently away, And he doth not build it.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he will not build it up.
Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build.
Because he broke in and stripped the poor: he hath violently taken away a house which he did not build.
because they oppressed poor people and refused to help them, and they took other people’s houses by cheating them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 20:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 20:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּֽי
רִ֭צַּץ
עָזַ֣ב
דַּלִּ֑ים
בַּ֥יִת
גָּ֝זַ֗ל
וְ/לֹ֣א
יִבֶנֵֽ/הוּ
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
רִ֭צַּץ
râtsats
H7533
to crush
V-Piel-Perf-3ms
עָזַ֣ב
ʻâzab
H5800
Forsaken
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
דַּלִּ֑ים
dal
H1800
poor
Adj
בַּ֥יִת
bayith
H1004
place
N-ms
גָּ֝זַ֗ל
gâzal
H1497
to plunder
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
וְ/לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
יִבֶנֵֽ/הוּ
bânâh
H1129
to build
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 20:19
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
רִ֭צַּץ
râtsats
H7533
"to crush"
V-Piel-Perf-3ms
To crush means to break or oppress something or someone, used to describe physical or emotional distress in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to crush, oppress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to crush, get crushed, be crushed 1a2) to crush, oppress (fig) 1a3) crushed (participle passive) 1b) (Niphal) to be crushed, be broken 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to crush in pieces 1c2) to grievously oppress (fig) 1d) (Poel) to oppress (fig) 1e) (Hiphil) to crush 1f) (Hithpoel) to crush each other
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: break, bruise, crush, discourage, oppress, struggle together. See also: Genesis 25:22; Psalms 74:14; Isaiah 36:6.
עָזַ֣ב
ʻâzab
H5800
"Forsaken"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Definition: This name means to restore, repair Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 206 OT verses. KJV: commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:24; Nehemiah 5:10; Psalms 9:11.
דַּלִּ֑ים
dal
H1800
"poor"
Adj
The Hebrew word for someone who is poor or weak, often describing those in need of help or assistance. In the book of Proverbs, it warns against oppressing the poor, and in Psalm 35:10, it describes the needy and the poor. The word is also used in Isaiah 41:17.
Definition: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low
Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker. See also: Exodus 23:3; Proverbs 19:17; Psalms 41:2.
בַּ֥יִת
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
גָּ֝זַ֗ל
gâzal
H1497
"to plunder"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This verb means to take something by force, like plundering or robbing, and is used in stories like David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. It can also mean to strip or flay something, and is often associated with violence.
Definition: 1) to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tear away, rob 1a2) to seize, plunder (with acc cognate) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be robbed 1b2) to be taken away
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear. See also: Genesis 21:25; Psalms 69:5; Psalms 35:10.
וְ/לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יִבֶנֵֽ/הוּ
bânâh
H1129
"to build"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.
Study Notes — Job 20:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 20:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 20:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:19
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 20:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:19
- Cambridge Bible on Job 20:19
- Barnes' Notes on Job 20:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:19
- Sermons on Job 20:19
Context — Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked
17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.
19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure. 21Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 35:9 | Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty. |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:31 | Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. |
| 3 | James 5:4 | Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. |
| 4 | Proverbs 22:22–23 | Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. |
| 5 | 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. |
| 6 | James 2:6 | But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? |
| 7 | James 2:13 | For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
| 8 | Ecclesiastes 4:1 | Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. |
| 9 | 1 Samuel 12:3–4 | Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” “You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” |
| 10 | Amos 4:1–3 | Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.” The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: “Behold, the days are coming when you will be taken away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. You will go out through broken walls, each one straight ahead of her, and you will be cast out toward Harmon, ” declares the LORD. |
Job 20:19 Summary
This verse is saying that the person being described has done some very wrong things, like taking advantage of people who are poor and don't have much, and taking things that don't belong to them. This is not what God wants us to do, as we see in Proverbs 21:3, where it says that doing what is right and just is more important to God than sacrificing to Him. We should try to be kind and fair to everyone, especially those who are struggling, and use what we have been given to help others, as seen in 1 John 3:17-18.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to oppress and forsake the poor?
To oppress and forsake the poor means to take advantage of and neglect those who are less fortunate, which is contrary to God's command to love and care for the needy, as seen in Proverbs 19:17 and Isaiah 58:6-7.
Why is it wrong to seize houses that one did not build?
Seizing houses that one did not build is a form of injustice and theft, as it takes away the rightful property of others, which is condemned in the Bible, as seen in Exodus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 5:19.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the book of Job?
This verse highlights the consequences of living a life of sin and injustice, which is a major theme in the book of Job, as seen in Job 4:8 and Job 31:3.
What can we learn from this verse about God's character?
This verse shows that God is a God of justice and righteousness, who hates oppression and loves the poor, as seen in Psalm 140:12 and Jeremiah 22:16.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be oppressing or forsaking the poor in my own life, and how can I make changes to love and care for them?
- How can I ensure that I am being a good steward of the resources and possessions that God has given me, and not taking advantage of others?
- What are some ways that I can use my own life and resources to build up and bless others, rather than tearing them down?
- How can I cultivate a heart of justice and righteousness, and stand up for those who are being oppressed or forgotten?
Gill's Exposition on Job 20:19
Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor,.... Having oppressed, crushed, and broken the poor to pieces, he leaves them so without pity and compassion for them, and without giving them
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 20:19
Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Oppressed - whereas he ought to have espoused their cause (2 Chronicles 16:10). Forsaken - left helpless.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 20:19
By his oppression he brought men to utter poverty, and then forsook or left them in that forlorn estate, affording no mercy nor help to them. Or, some he made poor by his oppression, and others that were poor he suffered to perish for want of that relief which he should and might have afforded them; which is a crying sin in God’ s sight, and one of those sins for which God destroyed Sodom, , and therefore fitly mentioned here as one of the sins for which God punished this wicked man. Or, he oppresseth and leaveth poor, as Broughton renders it. An house which he built not, i.e. which was none of his. Heb. he hath violently taken away an house, and (or but) did not build (or repair, as building is oft used) it, to wit, that house for his own use, i.e. he did not build or possess that house, as he intended to do, but was cut off by God’ s hand before he could enjoy the fruit of his oppressions.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 20:19
Job 20:19 Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;Ver. 19. Because he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor]. Heb. Because he hath crushed or broken in pieces. The original word importeth (as one well observeth) tyrannical oppression without mercy or moderation, without ho or hold; some give full scope to their rage and wrath, they put neither bond nor bridle upon their covetousness and cruelty: such are characterized by this word. And forsaken the poor] Or, Left men poor; viz. by leaving them without a livelihood, and so as good as without life. A poor man in his house is like a snail in his shell; crush that, and you kill him. They which read it, And forsaken the poor, give us this good note, that as it is sinful to forsake the poor, though we have never oppressed them, Matthew 25:35-36 (not to do justice is injustice, not to show mercy is cruelty, Mark 3:4), so to oppress, and then forsake them, is far more sinful. Because he hath violently taken away] Violently and in open view, in an impudent manner. He pulleth down men’ s houses, but never thinketh of repairing them; so some read this text.
Let our depopulators look to it, who build themselves desolate places, and desire to live alone in the earth. This hath been noted as a great fault in our nation. And therefore Goropius thinketh that the English were called Angli because they were so good anglers, having skill to lay various baits when they fished for other men’ s livings.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 20:19
(19) Because he hath oppressed and forsaken . . .—For these insinuations there was not a vestige of ground, but Job formally rebuts them in Job 31
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 20:19
Verse 19. He hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor] Literally, He hath broken in pieces the forsaken of the poor; כי רצץ עזב דלים ki ritstsats azab dallim. The poor have fled from famine, and left their children behind them; and this hard-hearted wretch, meaning Job all the while, has suffered them to perish, when he might have saved them alive. He hath violently taken away a house which he builded not] Or rather, He hath thrown down a house, and hath not rebuilt it. By neglecting or destroying the forsaken orphans of the poor, mentioned above, he has destroyed a house, (a family,) while he might, by helping the wretched, have preserved the family from becoming extinct.
Cambridge Bible on Job 20:19
19. and hath forsaken] Abandoned them, after oppressing them, to their destitution. Thus, though joining house to house (Isaiah 5:8) and dispossessing the poor, the houses which he robs he shall not build up—as Is. says, Many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair without inhabitant (ch. Job 5:9).
Barnes' Notes on Job 20:19
Because he hath oppressed - Margin, “crushed.” Such is the Hebrew. And forsaken the poor - He has plundered them, and then forsaken them - as robbers do.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 20:19
19. A house which he builded not — Literally, A house hath he plundered, but he shall not build it up. “House” is used collectively for houses.
Sermons on Job 20:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
What Is Prophetic? - Part 1 by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being prepared to preach the word of God. He reflects on the example of Moses and the depth of God's dealing with him durin |
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Ill-Gotten Gain - Part 2 by Alistair Begg | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the theme of injustice and greed in society. He uses vivid imagery to describe the consequences of employers withholding wages from their wor |
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The Care of the Poor by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the divine promise of strength and support from God for those who care for the poor, as illustrated in Psalms 41:3. He highlights that in times of sickness |
|
The Christian Manner of Expressing Gratitude. by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the gratitude expressed by St. Paul towards his benefactor, Onesiphorus, highlighting the importance of showing gratitude and seeking mercy from the Lo |
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I Walked in a Daze by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan reflects on his experiences in the United States, contrasting the affluence and material wealth he observed with the stark realities faced by national missionary evan |
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The Social Problem by W.H. Griffith Thomas | W.H. Griffith Thomas emphasizes the clergyman's awareness of social ills and the moral responsibility to address them, highlighting the need for social reform and the implicit soci |
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Vii. the Commercial Sign by Lewis Sperry Chafer | Lewis Sperry Chafer discusses the last Biblical sign of the times mentioned in James 5:1-8, focusing on the 'heaping up' of treasures in 'the last days,' which signifies an increas |