Job 27:7 — Word Study
WLCיְהִ֣י כְ֭רָשָׁע אֹ֣יְבִ֑י וּמִתְקוֹמְמִ֥י כְעַוָּֽל׃
BSAMay my enemyʼôyêb [hater, adversary] behâyâh▸ like the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] and my opponentqûwm [he who rises up against me, resister] like the unjustʻavvâl [unrighteous, evil doer]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְהִ֣י | may he be | Verb, Qal, jussive third person masculine singular |
| כְ֭רָשָׁע | like a wicked [person] | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אֹ֣יְבִ֑י | enemy my | Verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| וּמִתְקוֹמְמִ֥י | and [one who] raises himself against me | Conjunction, verb hithpael participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| כְעַוָּֽל׃ | like an evil-doer | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust. |
| KJV | Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. |
| ASV | Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous. |
| YLT | As the wicked is my enemy, And my withstander as the perverse. |
| WEB | “Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous. |
| BBE | Let my hater be like the evil man, and let him who comes against me be as the sinner. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of Job's wish for his enemies — see How Translations Differ.
The structure is clear with one main clause and two subordinate phrases, showing Job's desire for justice.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 27:7
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 — Job's Defense of His Integritygenerated
Job 27:7 is part of Job's response to his friends, where he asserts his righteousness and expresses his feelings towards his enemies. He wishes that those who oppose him should be treated as the wicked and unjust, reinforcing his stance that he is not among them. This section emphasizes Job's plea for justice and his unwavering commitment to his integrity, as seen in the verses surrounding it.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 25:26 | Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 18:32 | The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.” |
| 3 | Daniel 4:19 | For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהִ֣י, ye.Higenerated
The word יְהִי (yehi) is a jussive form of the verb הָיָה (hayah), meaning 'may he be' or 'let it be.' This form expresses a wish or desire, indicating a longing for a certain state or condition to come to pass.
In this verse, Job uses it to express his desire for his enemies to be like the wicked, showcasing his feelings of animosity towards them. The jussive mood is significant in Hebrew as it conveys a sense of urgency or a strong wish.
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 יְהִ֣י (yehi) governs the entire sentence, expressing a wish. The structure is straightforward, with two clauses connected by 'and' that describe Job's enemies.
The first clause introduces Job's enemy and describes them as 'like the wicked,' while the second clause describes his opponent as 'like the unjust.' This parallel structure emphasizes Job's disdain for both.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְהִ֣י as εἴησαν, which carries a similar jussive meaning, reflecting Job's wish. This choice aligns with the Hebrew intent of expressing a desire for his enemies' fate.
The use of ὥσπερ for both 'like the wicked' and 'like the unjust' indicates a consistent interpretation in the Greek translation, maintaining the comparative nature of Job's statement.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 27:7 shows Job wishing that his enemies be treated like the wicked and unjust. He expresses his feelings towards those who oppose him, highlighting his desire for justice and his commitment to righteousness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing a strong desire for justice against those who oppose him, indicating that he views them as morally wrong.
By calling his opponent unjust, Job emphasizes the moral failings of those who rise against him, contrasting his own integrity.
This verse reflects Job's struggle against false accusations and his longing for vindication in the face of adversity.
Job's words remind us of the importance of seeking justice and maintaining integrity, even when faced with opposition.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond to those who oppose me in my life?
- What does it mean to wish harm upon an enemy, and how does that reflect my own values?
- In what ways can I ensure that I maintain my integrity when facing unjust treatment?
- How can I seek justice in my own life while also showing grace to my adversaries?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church father Gregory the Dialogist comments on Job's wish for his enemies, noting the significance of his words in the context of righteousness.
Let mine enemy be like the ungodly, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. In Holy Writ, the words 'like as' and 'as if' are sometimes put not for a likeness, but for the reality.Early Church Fathers on Job 27 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 27:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet mine enemy be as the wicked,.... Job in this, and some following verses, shows, that he was not, and could not, and would not be a wicked man and an hypocrite, or however had no opinion and
Read John Gill on Job 27 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 27 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI am so far from loving and practising wickedness, whereof you accuse me, that I abhor the thoughts of it; and if I might and would wish to be revenged of mine enemy, I could wish him no greater mischief than to be a wicked man. He that riseth up against me; either, 1. You my friends, who, instead of comforting me, are risen up to torment me. Or rather, 2. My worst enemies.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 27 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 27:7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.Ver. 7. Let mine enemy be as the wicked] q.d. I need wish my greatest enemy no greater harm than to be as the wicked, for then he is sure to be wretched. So far am I from saying that God favoureth the wicked, or that he always suffereth them to escape unpunished. And he that riseth up against me, as the unrighteous] Or, froward and perverse. This is the same again in other words; and it is well noted to be a popular manner of speaking, wherein when men express an abomination of a thing, they wish it to their enemies; taking it for granted that the power of malice is so great that no man can express…
Read John Trapp on Job 27 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) Let mine enemy be as the wicked.—While, however, he admits that the wicked is often a prosperous man, he declares that he has no envy for him, but would have only his adversaries to be like him.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 27 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 7. Let mine enemy be as the wicked] Let my accuser be proved a lying and perjured man, because he has laid to my charge things which he cannot prove, and which are utterly false.
Read AdamClarke on Job 27 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7–10. The dreary and desolate condition of the mind of the wicked man in affliction.
Read Cambridge on Job 27 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet mine enemy be as the wicked - This is probably said that he might show that it was not his intention to justify the wicked, and that in all that he had said it was no part of his purpose to
Read Albert Barnes on Job 27 →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
May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
“Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
May my enemy be like the wicked and my opponent like the unjust.
“May my enemy be like the wicked, my adversary like the unrighteous.
Tyndale line
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.
Let my enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Mine enemie shall be as the wicked, and he that riseth against me, as the vnrighteous.
Strictly literal
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
As the wicked is my enemy, And my withstander as the perverse.
My enemy is as the wicked, || And my withstander as the perverse.
Like the wicked is [therefore] my enemy, and he that riseth up against me like a wrong-doer.
Let my enemy be like a wicked man; let him who rises up against me be like an unrighteous man.
From the Latin
Let my enemy be as the ungodly, and my adversary as the wicked one.
Simplified
May my enemy become like the wicked; may those who oppose me become like those who do evil.
Let my hater be like the evil man, and let him who comes against me be as the sinner.
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 matches the Septuagint closely, with four out of five words corresponding directly. This agreement indicates a strong preservation of the text's meaning across these witnesses.
יְהִ֣י כְ֭רָשָׁע אֹ֣יְבִ֑י וּמִתְקוֹמְמִ֥י כְעַוָּֽל׃
4 of the 5 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 27:7
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.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singularHVqj3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Prep | Adj — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.
[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
base
H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
341 'oyeb o-yabe'
or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;
hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.
see HEBREW for 0340
אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.
1) (Qal) enemy
1a) personal
1b) national
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHVqrmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand
Qal 460
arise
arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
arise, abs., = become powerful
arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
arise for, i.e. to become
arise for action
arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
stand
Pi.
fulfil
confirm, ratify
confirm, establish
impose, an obligation
Pō‛l. raise up
Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up
Hiph.
146cause to arise, raise
raise, set up, stones
erect, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = bring on the scene
raise up = rouse, stir up
instigate, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = constitute
cause to stand
Hoph. be raised up
base
H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise
. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
. arise, abs., = become powerful
. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
. arise for, i.e. to become
. . arise for action
. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
. stand
. . fulfil
. . confirm, ratify
. confirm, establish
. impose, an obligation
. raise up
. raise oneself, = rise up
. . cause to arise, raise
. . raise, set up, stones
. erect, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = bring on the scene
. . raise up = rouse, stir up
. instigate, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = constitute
. cause to stand
. be raised up
6965 quwm koom
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,
figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X
be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X
enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift
up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise
(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,
strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -
rising).
קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.
Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)
§ -Kamai = "my adversary"
Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.
: rise/get_going
1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arise
1a2) to arise (hostile sense)
1a3) to arise, become powerful
1a4) to arise, come on the scene
1a5) to stand
1a5a) to maintain oneself
1a5b) to be established, be confirmed
1a5c) to stand, endure
1a5d) to be fixed
1a5e) to be valid
1a5f) to be proven
1a5g) to be fulfilled
1a5h) to persist
1a5i) to be set, be fixed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fulfil
1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose
1c) (Polel) to raise up
1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause to arise, raise
1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build
1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene
1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate
1e5) to raise up, constitute
Conj | V-r | Suff — Conjunction · verb hithpael participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHC/Vtrmsc/Sp1bs
עַוָּל (avval) refers to an unjust or unrighteous person. It is derived from a root meaning evil or morally wrong. The entries consistently emphasize its moral implications, describing it as perverse or wicked.
עַוָּל n.m. unjust, unrighteous one
base
H5767 עַוָּל
5767 `avval av-vawl'
intensive from 5765; evil (morally):--unjust, unrighteous,
wicked.
see HEBREW for 05765
עַוָּל (av.val) — unjust.
unjust one, perverse one, unrighteous one
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
→ OF THE WORD Mt 7:21; 12:50; Lu 11:28; Ro 2:13-15; 2Co 8:11; Jas 1:22-27; 4:11
See HEARERS