He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

JOB 36:7KJV
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Job 36:7 (KJV)

What does Job 36:7 mean?

Job 36:7 says that God always watches over those who do what is right and does not turn His attention away from them; instead, He places them among rulers and gives them lasting honor and stability. The verse emphasizes that God upholds and elevates the righteous, keeping them secure and esteemed.

In this part of the book of Job, Elihu is speaking to Job and his friends, explaining how God deals with people. Elihu argues that God is just and attentive, especially to those who live rightly, and that God’s care can result in positions of influence and dignity for them. This is meant to reassure Job that God’s justice and oversight are constant, even when circumstances are hard to understand.

The Hebrew behind Job 36:7

  • "withdraweth" (יַגְרַע, yigrā‘, H1639): This word means "to diminish" or "to take away." Here, it stresses that God does not reduce or remove His attention from the righteous.
  • "righteous" (צַדִּיק, tsaddîq, H6662): This word refers to someone who is just or morally upright. Elihu is highlighting that God’s special care is directed toward those who live according to what is right.
  • "establish" (יָשַׁב, yāshav, H3427): Often translated as "to sit" or "to dwell," here it conveys the idea of God setting the righteous in a secure, lasting position, not just a temporary honor.
  • "ever" (נֶצַח, netzach, H5331): This word means "forever" or "enduring." It adds weight to the idea that God’s establishment of the righteous is not fleeting but lasting.

Why Job 36:7 matters

  • Job 36:7 clarifies that God’s attention to the righteous is constant, countering the idea that God ignores or abandons good people during suffering.
  • The verse highlights Elihu’s belief that God’s justice is active and that honor and stability for the righteous are part of God’s ongoing work, not just future promises.
  • This statement fits into Elihu’s larger argument to Job, aiming to correct the assumption that suffering always means God’s disfavor, and instead pointing to God’s faithful oversight.