Job 35:9

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 35:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
Job 35:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 35

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“By reason of the multitude of oppressions, they make [the oppressed] to cry, etc.] Which is either an illustration by an instance of what is before said, that wickedness hurts men, as particularly oppression does, which makes then cry; or this refers to something new, to another complaint of Job, or an undue expression of his. Elihu undertakes to answer; that men cry unto God, as he himself had, but are not heard and answered; the place or places referred to may be (<182412>Job 24:12 19:7 30:20). To which Elihu replies, by granting that men oppressed cry because of their oppression, and are not heard; for which reasons may be given, as in the following verses. The poor are often oppressed by…”
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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
“(Ecc 4:1.) Elihu states in Job's words (Job 24:12; Job 30:20) the difficulty; the "cries" of "the oppressed" not being heard might lead man to think that wrongs are not punished by Him.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry - It is not quite easy to see the connection which this verse has with what goes before, or its bearing on the argument of Elihu. It seems however, to refer to the “oppressed in general,” and to the fact, to which Job had himself adverted Job 24:12, that people are borne down by oppression and that God does not interpose to save them. They are suffered to remain in that state of oppression - trodden down by people, crushed by the armor of a despot, and overwhelmed with poverty, sorrow, and want, and God does not interpose to rescue them. He looks on and sees all this evil, and does not come forth to deliver those who…”
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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
“Cry - Thus one man's wickedness may hurt another. Job 35:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“they make: Job 24:12, Job 34:28; Exo 2:23, Exo 3:7, Exo 3:9; Neh 5:1-5; Psa 12:5, Psa 43:2, Psa 55:2, Psa 55:3, Psa 56:1, Psa 56:2; Luk 18:3-7 the arm: Job 40:9; Psa 10:15 Job 35:10”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they raise a cry, They call for help by reason of the arm of the great, 10 But none saith: Where is Eloah my Creator, Who giveth songs of praise in the night, 11 Who teacheth us by the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wise by the fowls of heaven? 12 Then they cry, yet He answereth not, Because of the pride of evil men. 13 Vanity alone God heareth not, And the Almighty observeth it not. In Job 35:9 the accentuation of מרוב with Dech, according to which Dachselt interprets: prae multitudine (oppressionum) oppressi clamabunt, is erroneous; it is to be written מרב, as everywhere else, and this (according to Codd. and the editions of Jablonski, Majus,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification