Job 24:11 — Word Study
WLCבֵּין־ שׁוּרֹתָ֥ם יַצְהִ֑ירוּ יְקָבִ֥ים דָּ֝רְכ֗וּ וַיִּצְמָֽאוּ׃
BSAThey crush olivestsâhar△▸ [press out, extract, to make oil] withinbêyn their wallsshûwr [between the rows of plants, in their midst] they treaddârak■ [walk on, step on] ◂the winepressesyeqeb [containers for holding wine, troughs for crushing grapes] but go thirstytsâmêʼ▸ [suffer from lack of drink, feel parched]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בֵּין־ | between | Prep |
| שׁוּרֹתָ֥ם | rows their | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יַצְהִ֑ירוּ | they press out oil | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| יְקָבִ֥ים | wine-presses | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| דָּ֝רְכ֗וּ | they tread | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| וַיִּצְמָֽאוּ׃ | and they were thirsty | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty. |
| KJV | Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. |
| ASV | They make oil within the walls of these men; They tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. |
| YLT | Between their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst. |
| WEB | They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst. |
| BBE | Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes. |
All translations agree on the core actions described in the verse.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, emphasizing the actions of the subjects.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbצָהַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 24:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Injustice of the Oppressedgenerated
Job 24:11 illustrates the paradox of those who toil to produce goods like oil and wine yet remain unquenched in their thirst. This verse emphasizes the harsh realities faced by the oppressed, who work diligently but do not enjoy the fruits of their labor. In the broader context of Job 24, the speaker reflects on the injustices in the world, where the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 25:4 | Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 22:13 | “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, |
| 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַצְהִ֑ירוּ, yatz.Hi.rugenerated
The verb יָצַהַר (yatzahar) means 'to press out oil,' derived from a root that conveys the idea of extracting or squeezing. This specific form indicates an ongoing action performed by a group, in this case, those who extract oil from olives.
This word captures the essence of labor in the agricultural context, particularly in the production of oil, which was a vital commodity in ancient Israel. The use of this verb here highlights the effort put into the work, contrasting with the lack of reward experienced by the laborers.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יַצְהִ֑ירוּ, they press out, which governs the action of the subject. The structure includes two noun phrases that serve as objects: יְקָבִ֥ים, wine-presses, and a prepositional phrase בֵּין־ שׁוּרֹתָ֥ם, within their walls.
The order emphasizes the actions of the laborers first, followed by the objects of their labor, which highlights the contrast between their hard work and their ultimate thirst.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יַצְהִ֑ירוּ is rendered as ἐνήδρευσαν, which carries the sense of pressing or treading. This choice indicates a focus on the physical act of pressing, aligning closely with the original Hebrew meaning.
This translation choice reflects a similar agricultural context but may also suggest an interpretation that emphasizes the labor involved in the process.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 24:11 describes how people crush olives and tread wine-presses but still feel thirsty. This illustrates the struggles of those who work hard yet do not receive the rewards of their labor. It reflects the broader theme of injustice in the world, where the efforts of the oppressed go unrecognized.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Crushing olives refers to the process of extracting oil, an important commodity, which symbolizes hard work and labor.
The verse highlights the injustice faced by the oppressed, who work hard but do not benefit from their efforts.
It reflects the theme of suffering and injustice, emphasizing the disparity between the laborers and their lack of reward.
The verse mentions the crushing of olives and treading of wine-presses, both of which are essential practices in ancient winemaking and oil production.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced hard work without seeing the fruits of my labor?
- How can I support those who are struggling and feeling oppressed in my community?
- What does this verse teach about the nature of justice and reward?
- How can I find contentment in my efforts, even when the results are not immediately visible?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers, like Gregory the Dialogist, reference this verse to discuss the suffering of the righteous and the injustices faced by the Church.
They rest at mid-day amid the heaps of those that thirst with the winepresses being trodden. All those that persecute Holy Church, what else do they but 'tread the winepress?' Which is allowed to be by the Divine appointment,Early Church Fathers on Job 24 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 24:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[Which] make oil within their walls,.... Not the poor within their own walls; as if the sense was, that they made their oil in a private manner within the walls of their houses, or in their cellars,
Read John Gill on Job 24 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySome remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity. Some - the wicked.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 24 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTo wit, the poor man last mentioned. Within their walls; either, 1. Within their own walls, i.e. in private and secret places, for fear of the oppressors. Or rather, 2. Within the walls of the rich oppressors, for their use and benefit; for the poor, alas! had no walls, nor houses, nor oliveyards, nor vineyards left to them, but they were violently spoiled of and driven away from all those things, as was said in the foregoing verses. Their wine-presses, i.e. the grapes in their wine-presses, by a metonymy of the thing containing for the thing contained. Suffer thirst; because they are not permitted to quench their thirst out of the wine which they make, though their labor’ s both need and…
Read Matthew Poole on Job 24 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 24:11 [Which] make oil within their walls, [and] tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.Ver. 11. Which make oil within their walls, &c.]
Read John Trapp on Job 24 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. Make oil within their walls] Thus stripped of all that on which they depended for clothing and food, they are obliged to become vassals to their lord, labour in the fields on scanty fare, or tread their wine-presses, from the produce of which they are not permitted to quench their thirst.
Read AdamClarke on Job 24 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. A similar contrast between “tread the winepresses” and “suffer thirst.” The expression “within their walls” refers to the walled, well-protected vineyards of the rich nobility, within which these miserable serfs tread out abundant wine all the while that they themselves pant with thirst.
Read Cambridge on Job 24 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhich made oil within their walls - Or rather, they compel them to express oil within their walls.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 24 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. Within their walls — Compare Proverbs 24:31. Tread… presses — See note, Job 1:13.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 24 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst.
They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
They press out the olive oil between the rows of olive trees; they tread the winepresses while they are thirsty.
Tyndale line
Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
They make oil within the walls of these men; They tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
They make oil within the walls of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
Who make oil within their walls, and tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
They that make oyle betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.
Strictly literal
They press out oil within their walls, they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
Between their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst.
They make oil between their walls, || They have trodden winepresses, and thirst.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
The poor people make oil within the walls of those wicked men; they tread the wicked men's winepresses, but they themselves suffer thirst.
From the Latin
They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.
Simplified
In the olive groves they work to produce oil, but do not taste it; they tread the winepress, but are thirsty.
Between the lines of olive-trees they make oil; though they have no drink, they are crushing out the grapes.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the core elements of the verse, with four of the six words matched. This shows a consistent understanding of the actions described, although the Septuagint's word order differs.
בֵּין־ שׁוּרֹתָ֥ם יַצְהִ֑ירוּ יְקָבִ֥ים דָּ֝רְכ֗וּ וַיִּצְמָֽאוּ׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 24:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.
בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between
always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
base
H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between
. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies
996 beyn bane
(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,
the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a
distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before
each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,
either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +
from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.
see HEBREW for 0995
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.
: between
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.
: among
between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)
Prep — PrepHAcmsc
שׁוּר (shuwr) primarily means 'wall,' derived from a root meaning to go about. It also refers to a 'row,' specifically a row of olives or vines, as indicated by its feminine form שׁוּרָה (shurah). The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
שׁוּר n.[m.] wall
base
[שׁוּרָה] n.f. prob. row of olives or vines
base
H7791a שׁוּר wall H7791b שׁוּרָה prob. row of olives or vines
7791 shuwr shoor
from 7788; a wall (as going about):--wall.
see HEBREW for 07788
שׁוּר (shur) — wall.
wall
שׁוּרָה (shu.rah) — row.
row of olives or vines
Also means: sha.rah (שָׁרָה "vine-row" H8284)
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3mp
צָהַר (tsahar) is a verb that means to press out oil, derived from the root meaning to glisten. It is used in the Hiphil form, particularly noted in Job 24:11. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to oil production.
[צָהַר] vb. denom. fr. foreg. [יִצְהָר], Hiph. press out oil;—Jb 24:11.
ref
H6671 צָהַר vb. denom. fr. foreg. [יִצְהָר] press out oil
6671 tsahar tsaw-har'
a primitive root; to glisten; used only as denominative from
3323, to press out oil:--make oil.
see HEBREW for 03323
צָהַר (tsa.har) — to press.
(Hiphil) to press oil, press out oil, glisten
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVhi3mp
oil (shemen; elaion):
1. Terms
2. Production and Storage
3. Uses
(1) As a Commodity of Exchange
(2) As a Cosmetic
(3) As a Medicine
(4) As a Food
(5) As an Illuminant
(6) In Religious Rites
(a) Consecration
(b) Offerings
(c) Burials
4. Figurative Uses
Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.
1. Terms:
Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…
Oil
Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (
Of the numerous substances, animal and vegetable, which were known to the ancients as yielding oil, the olive berry is the one of which most frequent mention is made in the Scriptures. Gathering , --The olive berry was either gathered by hand or shaken off carefully with a light reed or stick. Pressing . --In order to make oil the fruit, was either bruised in a mortar crushed in a press loaded with wood or stones, ground in a mill, or trodden with the feet. The "beaten" oil of (Exodus 27:20; 29:40; Leviticus 24:2; Numbers 28:6) was probably made by bruising in a mortar, It was used-- (1) As food. Dried wheat, boiled with either butter or oil, but generally the former, is a common dish for all classes in Syria. (
Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,
יֶ֫קֶב (yeqeb) refers to a wine-vat or wine-press, derived from a root meaning to excavate. It describes a trough used for winemaking, either for crushing grapes or collecting juice. The term appears in contexts related to viticulture.
יֶ֫קֶב n.m. wine-vat, sometimes also wine-press
base
H3342 יֶ֫קֶב wine-vat, sometimes also wine-press
3342 yeqeb yeh'-keb
from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug
out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into
which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are
crushed):--fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press).
יֶ֫קֶב (ye.qev) — wine.
wine vat, wine-press
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
דָּרַךְ (darakh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tread or march. It encompasses a range of actions including walking, leading, and bending a bow. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, indicating both simple and causative actions. Notably, it can refer to treading down or guiding others.
דָּרַךְ vb. tread, march
Qal
tread, march, march forth
tread upon
tread wine- (or oil-) press
tread (i.e. bend) the bow
Hiph.
tread, tread down
tread (bend) the bow
causat. cause to tread or march, lead
base
H1869 דָּרַךְ tread, march
1869 darak daw-rak'
a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to
string a bow (by treading on it in bending):--archer, bend,
come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread
(down), walk.
דָּרַךְ (da.rakh) — to tread.
1) to tread, bend, lead, march
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tread, march, march forth
1a2) to tread on, tread upon
1a3) to tread (a press)
1a4) to tread (bend) a bow
1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to tread, tread down
1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow
1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
tred.
See WINE PRESS.
צָמֵא (tsame') is a primitive root meaning 'to thirst,' which can be understood both literally and figuratively. The entries consistently describe it as a verb indicating the state of being thirsty.
[צָמֵא] vb. be thirsty
base
H6770 צָמֵא be thirsty
6770 tsame' tsaw-may'
a primitive root; to thirst (literally or
figuratively):--(be a-, suffer) thirst(-y).
צָמֵא (tsa.me) — to thirst.
(Qal) to be thirsty
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp