“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu points out that people cry out because of the multitude of oppressions and the arm of the mighty, highlighting that their cries stem from intense suffering inflicted by powerful individuals, not necessarily a direct plea for divine intervention. This reveals that the "anomaly" of suffering isn't always a lack of God's justice, but perhaps a misdirected or unexamined cry from those oppressed.
“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God isn't answering his cries for justice against his suffering. He argues that even when people are severely oppressed by powerful individuals, their cries aren't always answered by God, and he's about to explain why.
Why do people cry out when they're suffering under injustice? It seems like a natural, desperate response. But what if that cry doesn't immediately bring relief?
Elihu acknowledges a painful reality: people cry out when they are crushed by oppression and the power of the mighty. This isn't a fringe experience; it's a 'multitude of oppressions.' The sheer weight of suffering causes people to call for help, to shout against the injustice they face. It’s the sound of raw pain and a plea for someone, anyone, to intervene.
This verse highlights the visible struggle of those under unjust power. Their cries are a testament to the harshness of their reality, a reality that can make it seem like justice is absent.
Elihu is about to reveal a critical distinction: not all cries are heard the same way. What separates a cry that goes unanswered from one that finds a divine ear?
While Elihu acknowledges the cries of the oppressed, he's setting up a contrast. The commentaries suggest that these cries, though loud and desperate, often lack a crucial element: a genuine turning to God. People cry out against their oppressors, against the 'arm of the mighty,' but they don't actively seek or acknowledge God in their distress.
This isn't to say God ignores suffering. Rather, Elihu implies that a cry rooted only in human frustration or revenge, without a sincere appeal to the 'Maker,' is different. The cry is heard, but the prayer for true relief, for God's intervention, is missing.
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osheq · Hebrew Noun
Systemic or personal abuse of power, cruelty, or injustice inflicted upon others, particularly the weak and vulnerable. It represents an violation of God’s requirement for humans to treat their neighbors with justice and compassion.
This passage directly echoes Job 35:9 by highlighting the sorrowful realization that the oppressed are often left without comfort, and their cries go unheard amidst the injustices of the world.
Psalm 12:5This verse speaks to the promise that God hears the cries of the afflicted and will rise up to defend them against the powerful, offering a divine counterpoint to the human despair evident in Job 35:9.
Luke 18:7Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow whose cries are eventually heard by a judge, emphasizing that God's justice, though sometimes delayed, will ultimately prevail for the oppressed.
Isaiah 42:22This verse describes a people plundered and trapped, crying out but not being heard, mirroring the situation in Job 35:9 and setting the stage for God's future intervention and restoration.
jfbJob 35:9: "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty."
- (Ec 4:1.) Elihu states in Job's words (Job 24. 12; 30. 20) the difficulty; the "cries" of "the oppressed" not being heard might lead man to think that wrongs are not punished by Him.
clarkeJob 35:9: "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty."
By reason of the multitude - Or rather, "From among the multitude" the oppressed clamor, יזעיקו yaziku: they shout, ישועו yeshavveu, because of the mighty. The wicked rich oppress the wicked poor; these cry aloud because of their oppressors; but they have no relief, because they call not upon God.
Elihu points out that people cry out because of the multitude of oppressions and the arm of the mighty, highlighting that their cries stem from intense suffering inflicted by powerful individuals, not necessarily a direct plea for divine intervention. This reveals that the "anomaly" of suffering isn't always a lack of God's justice, but perhaps a misdirected or unexamined cry from those oppressed.
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God isn't answering his cries for justice against his suffering. He argues that even when people are severely oppressed by powerful individuals, their cries aren't always answered by God, and he's about to explain why.
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God isn't answering his cries for justice against his suffering. He argues that even when people are severely oppressed by powerful individuals, their cries aren't always answered by God, and he's about to explain why.
"“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty." — Elihu points out that people cry out because of the multitude of oppressions and the arm of the mighty, highlighting that their cries stem from intense suffering inflicted by powerful individuals…
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Last reviewed October 2026