Job 21:14 (KJV)

What does Job 21:14 mean?

Job 21:14 describes people who openly reject God, telling Him to leave them alone because they do not want to learn about His ways. The verse shows a deliberate turning away from God and a refusal to seek or accept His guidance.

In this part of the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends, challenging their belief that only the wicked suffer. He points out that some people prosper while rejecting God, saying, “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” Job uses their attitude as evidence that prosperity does not always mean someone is righteous or seeking God.

The Hebrew behind Job 21:14

• "Depart" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or go away. Here, it shows a strong wish for God to remove Himself from their lives, not just a passive ignoring.
• "Desire" (חָפֵץ, chafetz): This word means to take pleasure in or to want. The verse emphasizes that these people have no interest or delight in knowing God’s ways—they actively do not want it.
• "Knowledge" (דַּעַת, daʿat): This word refers to understanding or insight. The people are not just rejecting rules but are refusing any understanding of how God works.
• "Ways" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek): This word often means a path or manner of life. Here, it points to God’s character and how He wants people to live.

Why Job 21:14 matters

• Job 21:14 clarifies that some people’s prosperity does not mean they are close to God; they may be openly rejecting Him while still enjoying success.
• The verse challenges the idea that suffering is always a sign of wickedness and that prosperity is always a sign of God’s favor.
• Job uses this observation to question his friends’ simple explanations about why people suffer, adding depth to the book’s discussion of justice and suffering.