What does Job 21:16 mean?

"Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me." - Job 21:16

Job 21:16 - "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me."

Job 21:16 - "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me."

Job 21:16 (KJV) states, "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me." This verse is part of a larger passage in which Job is responding to the arguments of his friends, who are trying to convince him that his suffering is a result of his sin. Job is trying to show that this is not always the case and that sometimes the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer.

In this verse, we see Job acknowledging that the wicked often prosper and seem to have good things in their possession. He is essentially saying that the wicked do not have to work for their blessings, or what appears to be good in their lives is not a result of their own efforts or good deeds. This is a bitter pill for Job to swallow, as he is grappling with his own suffering and the seeming unfairness of life.

The theme of this verse is the discrepancy between the apparent success of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. Job is struggling with the apparent injustice of this situation and is questioning why the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. This theme is a common one in the Book of Job, as he wrestles with the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people.

The context of this verse is important in understanding its meaning. Job is in the midst of his suffering, and his friends are trying to convince him that he must have sinned in order to deserve such hardship. Job, however, maintains his innocence and is frustrated by the simplistic reasoning of his friends. This verse is part of his impassioned response to their arguments, as he tries to make sense of his suffering and the broader question of why evil seems to go unpunished and the righteous suffer.

There is also a sense of humility in Job's words here. He is recognizing that he does not have all the answers, and that the ways of the wicked are far from his own understanding. This speaks to the idea of trusting in God's ultimate justice, even when the world seems to operate in ways that are contrary to our own sense of fairness.

In terms of symbolism, the "good" that is not in the hand of the wicked can be seen as a representation of material blessings or success. Job is acknowledging that the wicked may appear to have these things, but they are not truly earned or deserved. This can be seen as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of worldly success and the ultimate emptiness of material wealth without moral character.

Overall, Job 21:16 is a poignant reflection on the perplexing nature of suffering and the apparent success of the wicked. It speaks to the larger themes of justice, righteousness, and the limitations of human understanding. As Job continues his struggle with these questions, he ultimately finds his faith in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty, despite the apparent unfairness of the world.

Job 21:16 Artwork

Job 21:16 - "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me."

Job 21:16 - "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me."

Job 16:21 - "O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!"

Job 16:21 - "O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!"

Job 21:1 - "But Job answered and said,"

Job 21:1 - "But Job answered and said,"

Job 16:1 - "Then Job answered and said,"

Job 16:1 - "Then Job answered and said,"

Job 16:16 - "My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;"

Job 16:16 - "My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;"

Job 21:12 - "They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ."

Job 21:12 - "They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ."

Job 35:16 - "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge."

Job 35:16 - "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge."

Job 21:2 - "Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations."

Job 21:2 - "Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations."

Job 3:20-21 - "Job 3:20-21: Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure?"

Job 3:20-21 - "Job 3:20-21: Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure?"

Job 33:16 - "Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,"

Job 33:16 - "Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,"

Job 12:16 - "With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his."

Job 12:16 - "With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his."

Job 21:8 - "Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes."

Job 21:8 - "Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes."

Job 21:18 - "They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away."

Job 21:18 - "They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away."

Job 18:21 - "Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

Job 18:21 - "Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

Job 21:13 - "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave."

Job 21:13 - "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave."

Leviticus 21:16 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

Leviticus 21:16 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

Job 21:21 - "For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?"

Job 21:21 - "For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?"

Job 6:16 - "Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:"

Job 6:16 - "Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:"

Job 28:16 - "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire."

Job 28:16 - "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire."

Job 12:21 - "He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty."

Job 12:21 - "He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty."

Job 21:24 - "His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow."

Job 21:24 - "His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow."

Job 21:25 - "And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure."

Job 21:25 - "And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure."

Job 40:21 - "He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens."

Job 40:21 - "He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens."

Job 21:11 - "They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance."

Job 21:11 - "They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance."

Job 21:10 - "Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf."

Job 21:10 - "Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf."

Job 21:32 - "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb."

Job 21:32 - "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb."

Job 24:21 - "He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow."

Job 24:21 - "He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow."

Job 42:16 - "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations."

Job 42:16 - "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations."

Job 21:7 - "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?"

Job 21:7 - "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?"

Job 3:21 - "Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;"

Job 3:21 - "Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;"