Job 24:21 (KJV)

What does Job 24:21 mean?

Job 24:21 describes a person who mistreats women who are already vulnerable—specifically, a barren woman who cannot have children and a widow who has lost her husband—by treating them harshly and refusing to do them any good. The verse points out the cruelty and lack of compassion shown to those who are already suffering.

In the context of the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends and describing how, in the world as he sees it, wicked people often seem to get away with their actions. Job highlights the injustice that some people commit against the most defenseless members of society, showing his frustration that such evil often goes unpunished.

The Hebrew behind Job 24:21

• "entreateth" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word often means to harm, mistreat, or act wickedly toward someone. Here, it emphasizes active cruelty, not just neglect.
• "barren" (עֲקָרָה, ‘aqarah): This word refers to a woman unable to have children, a condition that brought social shame and vulnerability in ancient times. Mentioning her highlights how the wicked target those already marginalized.
• "beareth" (יָלַד, yalad): This verb means "to give birth." The phrase "the barren that beareth not" stresses the woman's inability to have children, underlining her helplessness.
• "good" (יָטַב, yatav): This word means to do good or show kindness. The verse notes the absence of even basic kindness toward the widow, not just the presence of harm.
• "widow" (אַלְמָנָה, almanah): A widow in the ancient world was especially vulnerable, lacking a husband’s protection or support. The verse singles her out as someone society should protect, yet the wicked ignore her needs.

Why Job 24:21 matters

• Job 24:21 clears up the idea that the wicked only harm those who can defend themselves; instead, it shows that they often target the most defenseless, like barren women and widows.
• The verse highlights Job’s argument that injustice is real and visible in the world, challenging the idea that only the righteous prosper and the wicked always suffer.
• By focusing on the mistreatment of the vulnerable, Job 24:21 connects to the wider biblical theme of God’s concern for widows and the oppressed, making Job’s lament about injustice even sharper.