They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

JOB 24:13KJV
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Job 24:13 (KJV)

What does Job 24:13 mean?

Job 24:13 describes people who reject the light as a guide for their conduct. Job presents their wrongdoing as a deliberate turning away from a way of life that is open and visible, rather than a path they are willing to follow.

Job is speaking to his friends during a discussion about why wrongdoing seems to go unpunished. The image of “ways” and “paths” pictures conduct as a route a person takes. After describing suffering in verse 12, Job turns to people whose actions belong to the darkness.

The Hebrew behind Job 24:13

  • “rebel” — מָרַד (marad): This word carries the sense of resisting or defying. Job’s picture is stronger than simply failing to notice the light: these people stand against it.
  • “know” — נָכַר (nakar): This word can carry the sense of recognizing or acknowledging. “They know not the ways thereof” can suggest that they refuse to recognize those ways as their own.
  • “abide” — יָשַׁב (yashav): This word often means to dwell or remain. With “paths,” it gives a picture of staying on a route rather than merely stepping onto it.

Why Job 24:13 matters

  • The verse introduces a pattern, not just a single act. Job goes on to describe a murderer, an adulterer, and thieves in verses 14–16.
  • The contrast between light and darkness connects the image to the examples that follow. Verse 16 describes people who hide themselves by day, giving a concrete picture of their avoidance of the light.
  • Job’s words form part of his challenge to a simple explanation of suffering. In the surrounding passage, he describes both people who suffer and people who do harm, pressing the question of when wrongs will be answered.

Where else these words appear

“rebel” Hebrew H4775 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 14:4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
  • 2 Kings 18:20 Thou sayest,(but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
  • Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

“paths” Hebrew H5410 · used in 26 verses

  • Judges 5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
  • Psalms 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
  • Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

“know” Hebrew H5234 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 27:23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
  • Ruth 2:19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
  • Job 21:29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

“light” Hebrew H216 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
  • Job 36:32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
  • Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.