Job 24:1

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 24:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?
Job 24:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, etc.] Which seems to be an inference deduced from what he had said in (<182314>Job 23:14); that since all things are appointed by God, and his appointments are punctually performed by him, the times of his carrying his purposes and decrees into execution cannot be hidden from him; for, as he has determined what shall be done, he has determined the time before appointed for the doing of them; as there is a purpose for everything under the heavens, there is a time set for the execution of that purpose, which must be known unto God that has fixed it; for as all his works are known to him from the beginning, or from eternity, the times when…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Job 24:1-25) Why is it that, seeing that the times of punishment (Eze 30:3; "time" in the same sense) are not hidden from the Almighty, they who know Him (His true worshippers, Job 18:21) do not see His days (of vengeance; Joe 1:15; Pe2 3:10)? Or, with UMBREIT less simply, making the parallel clauses more nicely balanced, Why are not times of punishment hoarded up ("laid up"; Job 21:19; appointed) by the Almighty? that is, Why are they not so appointed as that man may now see them? as the second clause shows. Job does not doubt that they are appointed: nay, he asserts it (Job 21:30); what he wishes is that God would let all now see that it is so.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Why, seeing times are not hidden froth the Almighty - Dr. Good renders this, “Wherefore are not doomdays kept by the Almighty. So that his offenders may eye his periods?” Dr. Noyes: “Why are not times of punishment reserved by the Almighty. And why do not they, who regard him, see his judgments?” Jerome, “Times are not hidden from the Almighty; but they who know him are ignorant of his days.” The Septuagint, “But why have set times - ὧραι hōrai, escaped the notice - ἔλαθον elathon - of the Almighty, and the wicked transgressed all bounds? The word עתים ‛êthı̂ym, here translated “times,” is rendered by the Chaldee (עדניא), “set times,” times appointed for an assembly or a trial,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Why - Why (how comes it to pass) seeing times, (the fittest seasons for every, action, and particularly for the punishment of wicked men,) are not hidden from, or unknown to the Almighty God, (seeing all times, and men that live, and things that are done, or to be done in their times and seasons, are exactly known to God) do they that know him, (who love and obey him) not see (whence is it that they cannot discern) his (that is, God's) days? His times and seasons which he takes for the punishment of ungodly men; which if they were constant and fixed in this life, they would not be unknown to good men, to whom God uses to reveal his secrets. Job 24:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“24:1 bring . . . to judgment (literally set times): The times for God’s judgment are set (Eccl 3:17; 8:6; Dan 2:21; Luke 21:22-24), but they are not known to us (Acts 1:7). They will be revealed at the proper moment (1 Thes 5:1-28; 1 Tim 6:15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“seeing: Psa 31:15; Ecc 3:17, Ecc 8:6, Ecc 8:7, Ecc 9:11, Ecc 9:12; Isa 60:22; Dan 2:21; Luk 21:22-24; Act 1:7, Act 17:26; Th1 5:1; Ti1 4:1, Ti1 6:15; Pe2 2:3, Pe2 3:7, Pe2 3:8 they that know: Psa 9:10, Psa 36:10; Joh 17:3 not see: Gen 7:4, Gen 18:17, Gen 18:20, Gen 18:21; Psa 73:16-19; Jer 12:1-3; Mat 24:38; Rom 2:5 Job 24:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“1 Wherefore are not bounds reserved by the Almighty, And they who honour Him see not His days? 2 They remove the landmarks, They steal flocks and shepherd them. 3 They carry away the ass of the orphan, And distrain the ox of the widow. 4 They thrust the needy out of the way, The poor of the land are obliged to slink away together. The supposition that the text originally stood מדּוּע לרשׁעים משּׁדּי is natural; but it is at once destroyed by the fact that Job 24:1 becomes thereby disproportionately long, and yet cannot be divided into two lines of comparatively independent contents. In fact, לרשׁעים is by no means absolutely necessary. The usage of the language assumes it, according to which…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification