Job 34:5 (KJV)

What does Job 34:5 mean?

Job 34:5 reports that Job has claimed to be righteous, yet he feels that God has taken away his right to a fair judgment. The verse highlights Job’s sense of injustice—he believes he has done nothing wrong, but still suffers as if he were guilty.

In this verse, Elihu is speaking about Job to the other listeners. Elihu is summarizing Job’s complaint: Job has insisted on his innocence (“I am righteous”) and feels that God has denied him justice. This sets up Elihu’s argument that Job’s attitude toward God’s justice needs to be addressed.

The Hebrew behind Job 34:5

• “Righteous” is צָדַק (tsadaq), which means to be just or in the right. Job’s claim is not just about moral goodness, but about being legally or ethically right in his case before God.
• “God” is אֵל (El), a common Hebrew word for God, emphasizing God’s power and authority in judgment.
• “Taken away” is סוּר (sur), meaning to turn aside or remove. Job feels that God has removed or withheld his right to a fair hearing.
• “Judgment” is מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to justice, a legal decision, or a fair verdict. Job’s complaint is about being denied the justice he believes he deserves.

Why Job 34:5 matters

• This verse clarifies that Job’s struggle is not only with his suffering, but with his belief that God is not treating him justly, which is a central tension in the book.
• Elihu’s summary here sets up the coming discussion about the nature of God’s justice and human understanding, highlighting the gap between Job’s perspective and the arguments of his friends.
• Understanding the specific words for “righteous” and “judgment” helps readers see that Job’s complaint is about fairness and justice, not just personal suffering or pride.