Job 34:8 (KJV)

What does Job 34:8 mean?

Job 34:8 says that someone is keeping company with people who do wrong and is living alongside those who are wicked. The verse points out a close association with those who act unjustly, suggesting a shared way of life or values.

In this part of the book, Elihu is speaking about Job, accusing him of aligning himself with evildoers by the way he talks and acts. Elihu is addressing the friends and others listening, arguing that Job’s complaints put him in the same group as those who reject God’s justice. The verse is part of Elihu’s larger speech challenging Job’s claims of innocence and questioning his attitude toward God’s ways.

The Hebrew behind Job 34:8

• "Goeth" (יֵלֵךְ, yēlēḵ, H3212) is the common Hebrew word for "to go" or "to walk." Here, it suggests an ongoing pattern of behavior, not just a one-time action.
• "Workers" (פֹּעֲלֵי, pōʿălê, H6466) comes from a word meaning "to do" or "to make," often used for those who actively practice something—in this case, wrongdoing.
• "Iniquity" (אָוֶן, ʾāwen, H205) means "evil," "trouble," or "injustice." It highlights not just mistakes but deliberate wrongdoing.
• "Wicked" (רָשָׁע, rāšāʿ, H7562) refers to people who are morally corrupt or guilty of serious wrongdoing, not just minor faults.

Why Job 34:8 matters

• This verse clarifies that Elihu is not just accusing Job of making mistakes, but of aligning himself with people who openly oppose what is right.
• The language emphasizes the seriousness of being closely associated with those who do evil, not just in actions but in attitudes and words.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of Elihu’s argument in the wider passage, where he is challenging Job’s claims and urging listeners to consider the company one keeps as a reflection of character.