Job 36:15 — Word Study
WLCיְחַלֵּ֣ץ עָנִ֣י בְעָנְי֑וֹ וְיִ֖גֶל בַּלַּ֣חַץ אָזְנָֽם׃
BSAGod rescueschâlats▸ [the Almighty, Deliverer, delivers, sets free] the afflictedʻânîy [poor, humble, or weak] by their afflictionʻŏnîy [trouble, misery, or hardship] and opensgâlâh▸ [reveals, uncovers] their earsʼôzen [ability to hear, listen] in oppressionlachats [cruel or unfair treatment, distress]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְחַלֵּ֣ץ | he rescues | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עָנִ֣י | [the] afflicted | Adj |
| בְעָנְי֑וֹ | by affliction his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְיִ֖גֶל | and he uncovers | Conjunction, verb qal jussive third person masculine singular |
| בַּלַּ֣חַץ | by oppression | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אָזְנָֽם׃ | ear their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. |
| KJV | He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. |
| ASV | He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. |
| YLT | He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear. |
| WEB | He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression. |
| BBE | He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble. |
Where they part company is עָנִי — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with two subordinate phrases that explain how and under what conditions God acts.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָלַץ
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 36:15
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 — Elihu's Discourse on God's Justicegenerated
Job 36:15 presents Elihu explaining how God intervenes in the lives of the afflicted. He emphasizes that God uses their troubles to bring about deliverance and understanding. This reflects a broader theme in the Book of Job, where suffering and divine justice are explored, showing that even in distress, God is at work for good.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 36:10 | He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 12:8 | Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְחַלֵּ֣ץ, ye.cha.Letzgenerated
The verb חָלַץ (chalatz) means to rescue or deliver, often in the context of preparing for battle. It is a Piel form, indicating an active and intentional action by God to save those in distress.
Elihu's use of this word highlights God's role as a deliverer who actively intervenes in the lives of the afflicted, suggesting that their hardships are not without purpose but are part of God's greater plan for their rescue.
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 יְחַלֵּ֣ץ governs the entire verse, indicating God's action. The structure includes a prepositional phrase explaining how He rescues, followed by another verb phrase that describes what God does next.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on God's deliverance first, followed by the conditions under which this occurs, highlighting the connection between affliction and divine intervention.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יְחַלֵּ֣ץ is rendered as ἔθλιψαν, which means to afflict or press down. This choice suggests a focus on the state of the afflicted rather than the act of rescuing, indicating a different interpretative angle.
The translation choices in the Septuagint may reflect a broader understanding of suffering and divine response, emphasizing the relational aspect of God's care.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 36:15 explains how God helps those who are suffering. He uses their troubles to rescue them and helps them understand their situation. This shows that even in hard times, God is working for their good.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God uses the hardships and struggles of the afflicted to bring about their deliverance and understanding.
God opens their ears by helping them to listen and understand their circumstances, often leading them to a deeper awareness of His presence and purpose.
The term emphasizes the state of those who are suffering, indicating that God is particularly attentive to the needs of the humble and weak.
Oppression refers to the cruel or unfair treatment that the afflicted endure, which can lead to distress and suffering.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God’s rescue in my own struggles?
- How can I be more aware of God's presence during times of oppression?
- What does it mean for me to listen to God in my times of trouble?
- How can I support others who are afflicted or oppressed?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, emphasizing how God delivers the humble from their afflictions.
He will deliver the poor from his straitness. The poor is delivered from his straitness, when any humble person is set free from this affliction of his pilgrimage.Early Church Fathers on Job 36 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 36:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe delivereth the poor in his affliction,.... The righteous or godly poor; who are not only poor in worldly things, but poor in spirit; who are humbled, brought low, and made contrite, through the
Read John Gill on Job 36 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. Same sentiment as Job 36:11-12 expanded. Verse 13.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 36 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Causeth them to hear, and understand, and do the will of God; hearing being oft put for obeying. And this latter clause seems to be added, to intimate that he will not deliver all afflicted persons, but only those whose ears he openeth to receive his counsels. In oppression, i.e. in the time of their oppression. Or, by oppression or tribulation, as the means of opening their ears and hearts.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 36 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 36:15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.Ver. 15. He delivereth the poor in his affliction] Oft in this life, as he did David signally, Psalms 34:6, "This poor man" (meaning himself) "cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." So he pulled Paul out of the mouth of the lion; yea, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, "and preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom," 2 Timothy 4:18, where the saints shall be sure of full deliverance, and shall say of their afflictions, as that adulteress said of her accusers, John 8:10, They are all gone. He openeth their ears in oppression] Or, by oppression, as by a key; be…
Read John Trapp on Job 36 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) He delivereth the poor in his affliction.—The point of Elihu’s discourse is rather that He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction; He makes use of the very affliction to deliver him by it as a means, “and openeth their ears by oppression.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 36 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. And openeth their ears in oppression.] He will let them know for what end they are afflicted, and why he permits them to be oppressed. The word יגל yigel might be translated he shall make them exult, or sing with joy, in oppression; like the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace.
Read AdamClarke on Job 36 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. The verse goes back to the great general principle of the use of affliction in God’s hand (Job 36:8 seq.), in order to connect with it the case of Job, and to found an exhortation to him upon it (Job 36:16 seq.). The word in affliction, in oppression, might mean through affliction, &c.
Read Cambridge on Job 36 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe delivereth the poor in his affliction - Margin, “or afflicted.” This accords better with the usual meaning of the Hebrew word (עני ‛ânı̂y) and with the connection.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 36 →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
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering.
Tyndale line
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
He deliuereth the poore in his affliction, and openeth their eare in trouble.
Strictly literal
But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression.
He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.
He draws out the afflicted in his affliction, || And uncovers their ear in oppression.
He delivereth the afflicted through his affliction, and openeth through oppression his ear.
God rescues afflicted people by means of their afflictions; he opens their ears by means of their oppression.
From the Latin
He shall deliver the poor out of his distress, and shall open his ear in affliction.
Simplified
Through suffering God saves those who suffer; he gets their attention through their troubles.
He makes the wrong done to the poor the way of their salvation, opening their ears by their trouble.
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 reads יְחַלֵּ֣ץ עָנִ֣י בְעָנְי֑וֹ וְיִ֖גֶל בַּלַּ֣חַץ אָזְנָֽם׃. The Septuagint matches only three of the six words, showing some divergence in translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partially restored text that aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, indicating consistency in the core message.
יְחַלֵּ֣ץ עָנִ֣י בְעָנְי֑וֹ וְיִ֖גֶל בַּלַּ֣חַץ אָזְנָֽם׃
3 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.
[יחלץ] [עני] [בעני׳ו] [ויגל] בלחץ [אזנ׳ם]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
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 36:15
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.
חָלַץ (chalats) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of meanings related to drawing out or withdrawing, as well as rescuing or delivering. It can also imply equipping for war or strengthening. The entries indicate that it can be used in various forms, including to arm oneself or to be delivered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
חָלַץ vb. draw off or out, withdraw
Qal
draw, draw off
intrans. withdraw
Niph. be delivered
Pi.
pull out, tear out
rescue, deliver
base
[חָלַץ] vb. equip for war
Qal only Pt. pass.—equipped
as adj.
as subst. sg. coll.
Niph. be or go equipped
Hiph. will brace up, invigorate, thy bones
base
H2502a חָלַץ draw off or out, withdraw .. draw, draw off
. intrans. withdraw
. be delivered
. . pull out, tear out
. rescue, deliver
H2502b חָלַץ equip for war .only Pt. pass.—equipped . as adj.
. as subst. sq. coll.
. be or go equipped
. will brace up, invigorate, thy bones
2502 chalats khaw-lats'
a primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip,
(reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for
fight); present, strengthen:--arm (self), (go, ready) armed (X
man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready)
prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
חָלַץ (cha.lats) — to rescue.
1) to draw off or out, withdraw
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to draw, draw off
1a2) to withdraw
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be delivered
1b2) to be saved
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to pull out, tear out
1c2) to rescue, deliver, set free
1c3) to take away, plunder
חָלַץ (cha.lats) — to arm.
1) to equip (for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued
1a) (Qal) equipped (participle)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be equipped
1b2) to go equipped
1b3) to be armed
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make strong, brace up
1c2) to invigorate
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
עָנִי (aniy) describes a state of being poor, afflicted, or humble. It is built from the root meaning to be depressed in mind or circumstances. The entries indicate it covers a range of meanings including needy, lowly, and wretched. There is a noted disagreement regarding its relationship to another word, עָנָה (anah), with some lexicons viewing one as subjective and the other as objective.
עָנִי adj. poor, afflicted, humble
base
H6041 עָנִי poor, afflicted, humble
6041 `aniy aw-nee'
from 6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically
the same as 6035, although the margin constantly disputes
this, making 6035 subjective and 6041 objective):--afflicted,
humble, lowly, needy, poor.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06035
see HEBREW for 06035
see HEBREW for 06041
עָנִי (a.ni) — afflicted.
1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched
1a) poor, needy
1b) poor and weak
1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched
1d) humble, lowly
Adj — AdjHAamsa
→ DUTY TO THE Job 6:14; 22:29; Isa 58:6,7,10; Mt 25:34-45; Lu 10:30-37; Php 2:1,2; 1Ti 5:10; Jas 5:13-15
עֳנִי (oniy) refers to affliction, poverty, and misery. It is derived from the root word עָנָה (H6031), which relates to depression or trouble. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to suffering and hardship.
עֳנִי n.m. affliction, poverty
base
H6040 עֳנִי affliction, poverty
6040 `oniy on-ee'
from 6031; depression, i.e. misery: --afflicted(-ion),
trouble.
see HEBREW for 06031
עֳנִי (o.ni) — affliction.
1) affliction, poverty, misery
1a) affliction
1b) poverty
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word גָּלָה (galah) is a primitive root meaning to uncover or remove, with implications of revealing, disclosing, or going into exile. It encompasses various forms, including reflexive and passive uses, and can refer to both physical uncovering and metaphorical revelation. The word is notably associated with disgraceful exposure and the act of exile.
גָּלָה 189 vb. uncover, remove
Qal
uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him
intr. remove, depart
go into exile
Niph.
refl.
uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)
discover or shew oneself
pass.
be uncovered (one’s nakedness)
be disclosed, discovered
be removed
Pi.
uncover
disclose, discover, lay bare
make known, shew, reveal
Pu. be uncovered
Hiph. carry away into exile, take into exile
Hoph. carried into exile
Hithp.
was uncovered (naked)
that his heart may reveal itself
base
H1540 גָּלָה uncover, remove .. uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him
. intr. remove, depart
. go into exile
. . refl. . uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)
. discover or shew oneself
. pass. . be uncovered (one’s nakedness)
. be disclosed, discovered
. be removed
. . uncover
. disclose, discover, lay bare
. make known, shew, reveal
. be uncovered
. carry away into exile, take into exile
. carried into exile
. . was uncovered (naked)
. that his heart may reveal itself
1540 galah gaw-law'
a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful
sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually
stripped); figuratively, to reveal:--+ advertise, appear,
bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity),
depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, X plainly,
publish, remove, reveal, X shamelessly, shew, X surely, tell,
uncover.
הֶגְלָם (ga.lah) — Heglam.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.7;
son of: Ehud (H0164);
brother of: Naaman (H5283J), Ahijah (H0281K), Uzza (H5798H) and Ahihud (H0284); also called Heglam (KJV: "removed"; NIV: "deported") at 1Ch.8.7;
Another name of ge.ra (גֵּרָא "Gera" H1617J)
to reveal oneself
גָּלָה (ga.lah) — to reveal: reveal.
: reveal[information]
1) to uncover, remove
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to uncover
1a2) to remove, depart
1a3) to go into exile
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) (reflexive)
1b1a) to uncover oneself
1b1b) to discover or show oneself
1b1c) to reveal himself (of God)
1b2) (passive)
1b2a) to be uncovered
1b2b) to be disclosed, be discovered
1b2c) to be revealed
1b3) to be removed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to uncover (nakedness)
1c1a) nakedness
1c1b) general
1c2) to disclose, discover, lay bare
1c3) to make known, show, reveal
1d) (Pual) to be uncovered
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person masculine singularHC/Vqj3ms
לַ֫חַץ (lachats) refers to oppression or distress, indicating a sense of pressure or affliction. It is derived from the root word לַחַץ (H3905), which also relates to distress. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to suffering or hardship.
לַ֫חַץ n.m. oppression, distress
base
H3906 לַ֫חַץ oppression, distress
3906 lachats lakh'-ats
from 3905; distress:--affliction, oppression.
see HEBREW for 03905
לַ֫חַץ (la.chats) — oppression.
oppression, distress, pressure
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
o-presh'-un: Used in the King James Version to translate a variety of Hebrew words, all of which, however, agree in the general sense of wrong done by violence to others. There are a few cases where the reference is to the oppression of Israel by foreigners, as by their Egyptian masters (Ex 3:9; De 26:7), or by Syria (2Ki 13:4), or by an unmentioned nation (Isa 30:20 King James Version, margin). In all these cases the Hebrew original is lachats. But in the vast number of cases the reference is to social oppression of one kind or another within Israel's own body. It is frequently theme of psalmist and prophet and wise man. The poor and weak must have suffered greatly at the…
The Hebrew word אֹ֫זֶן (*ozen*) means 'ear' and is derived from a root that suggests broadness. It refers to the physical ear as well as the organ of hearing, and can also imply the act of revealing or receiving divine revelation. The term appears in contexts such as Exodus 29:20.
אֹ֫זֶן 188 n.f. Ex 29:20 ear
ear, as part of body
especially as organ of hearing
open ears of, reveal to
base
H241 אֹ֫זֶן ear
241 'ozen o'-zen
from 238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form
in man):--+ advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, +
show.
see HEBREW for 0238
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear.
: ear
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: hearing.
: hearing
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: to ears.
: to[ears_of](PERSON)
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp