Job 24:7

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 24:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.
Job 24:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, etc.] That is, such as are poorly clothed, thinly arrayed, have scarce anything but rags, and yet so cruel the wicked men above described, that they take these away from the poor, and even their bed clothes, which seem chiefly designed; so that they are obliged to lodge or lie all night without anything upon them: that [they have] no covering in the cold; neither in the daytime, nor in the night, and especially the latter; and having no house to go to, and obliged to lay themselves down upon the bare ground, had nothing to cover them from the inclemency of the weather; for even in hot countries nights are sometimes cold, and large dews fall,…”
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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
“UMBREIT understands it of the Bedouin robbers, who are quite regardless of the comforts of life, "They pass the night naked, and uncovered," &c. But the allusion to Job 22:6, makes the English Version preferable (see on Job 24:10). Frost is not uncommon at night in those regions (Gen 31:40).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They cause the naked to lodge without clothing - They strip others of their clothing, and leave them destitute. That they have no covering in the cold - All travelers tell us, that though the day is intensely hot in the deserts of Arabia, yet the nights are often intensely cold. Hence, the sufferings of those who are plundered, and who have nothing to defend themselves from the cold air of the night. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Naked - Those whom they stripped of their garments and coverings. Job 24:8”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“24:7 Unjust lenders sometimes left debtors without clothing or covering, which they had seized as collateral on loans (22:6; Exod 22:26-27; Deut 24:11-13; Amos 2:8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the naked: Job 24:10, Job 22:6, Job 31:19, Job 31:20; Exo 22:26, Exo 22:27; Deu 24:11-13; Isa 58:7; Act 9:31 no covering: Gen 31:40; Pro 31:21 \*marg. Job 24:8”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification