Job 27:13 (KJV)

What does Job 27:13 mean?

Job 27:13 says that what wicked people and oppressors receive from God—their “portion” and “heritage”—comes from the Almighty as their due. This verse states that there is a specific outcome or fate that God assigns to those who do evil and oppress others.

In this part of the book of Job, Job himself is speaking, defending his innocence to his friends. He insists that the suffering of the wicked is not random but is given by God as a just response to their actions. Job is making the point that even if it sometimes looks like the wicked prosper, their ultimate fate is determined by God’s justice.

The Hebrew behind Job 27:13

• “portion” (חֵלֶק, ḥēleq): This word refers to a share or allotment, like a piece of land or inheritance. Here, it means the fate or outcome that God assigns to the wicked.
• “heritage” (נַחֲלָה, naḥălāh): This word often means an inheritance passed down, usually within a family. In this verse, it emphasizes that what oppressors receive is not accidental but is given to them by God, almost as if it is their rightful inheritance for their actions.
• “oppressors” (עָרִיץ, ʿārîṣ): This word points to people who are violent or ruthless, not just generally wicked but those who actively harm others. Job singles out these people to show that God’s justice addresses both general wickedness and specific acts of oppression.
• “Almighty” (שַׁדַּי, Shaddai): This is a special name for God, highlighting His power and authority to determine people’s destinies.

Why Job 27:13 matters

• Job 27:13 clarifies that Job is not denying God’s justice; he affirms that God does punish the wicked, even if the timing is mysterious.
• The verse helps explain Job’s frustration: he knows the general principle that God judges the wicked, but he struggles because his own suffering does not fit this pattern.
• By naming both “wicked” and “oppressors,” Job 27:13 shows that God’s justice covers all kinds of evil, not just private wrongdoing but also public injustice.