King James Version
What Does Job 4:9 Mean?
“By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. by the breath: that is, by his anger”
Context
7
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. by the breath: that is, by his anger
10
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
Commentary
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary**7-8. caused the people to understand the law ... gave the sense--**Commentators are divided in opinion as to the import of this statement. Some think that Ezra read the law in pure Hebrew, while the Levites, who assisted him, translated it sentence by sentence into Chaldee, the vernacular dialect which the exiles spoke in Babylon. Others maintain that the duty of these Levites consisted in explaining to the people, many of whom had become very ignorant, what Ezra had read.
Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, David Brown. Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Job. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Job 4:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Job 4:9
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge