Job 35:9
“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that people cry out from many oppressions and because of the arm of the mighty, emphasizing the sheer weight and force of their suffering. This isn't just about one bad day; it's about the pervasive pressure of powerful oppressors, making their cries a natural, desperate response to overwhelming earthly hardship.
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God ignores his suffering and the cries of the oppressed. Elihu acknowledges that people do cry out in pain when powerful individuals oppress them, but suggests that their cries often lack sincerity or a genuine turning to God for help. This sets up Elihu's argument that the reason for unheeded cries isn't God's indifference, but rather the nature of the cry itself and the oppressed person's heart.
Life can feel incredibly unfair when those with power inflict suffering. Have you ever felt like your cries for help just vanished into thin air?
Elihu brings up a powerful, relatable point: people cry out because of immense suffering caused by powerful individuals. Think about it – when someone is truly wronged, when injustice piles up, the natural response is to cry out. This isn't just a little whimper; it's a shout born from the weight of oppression, a desperate plea against the 'arm of the mighty.'
This verse acknowledges a real human experience: the pain of seeing wrongdoers flourish and feeling helpless. It validates the agony of those who suffer under the heavy hand of those who wield power unjustly. It’s the sound of desperation when all other avenues seem closed.
So, people cry out in pain, but Elihu suggests there’s something crucial missing. What could that be?
While Elihu acknowledges the reality of suffering and the cries that arise from it, he pivots to a vital point made clearer in the following verses. The issue isn't that God can't hear or doesn't see the oppression. Instead, the problem often lies with the nature of the cry itself.
Many who cry out in their suffering are primarily focused on the human oppressors – their pain, their anger, their desire for revenge. They cry out of their oppression and because of the mighty, but their cry doesn't necessarily include a sincere, seeking appeal to God. They might lament their situation or curse their tormentors, but they don't actively ask, 'Where is God my Maker?'. Without that seeking after God, the cry remains one of human desperation rather than divine petition.
Understand the original words
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 echoes Job 35:9 by highlighting how the cries of the oppressed rise up to heaven, directly connecting the suffering of the vulnerable to a divine observation.
Luke 18:7Jesus speaks of God hearing the cries of His chosen who cry out day and night due to oppression, illustrating a divine responsiveness to persistent pleas that contrasts with the situation Elihu is discussing.
Psalm 12:5This psalm directly addresses God's awareness of the poor and needy who cry out due to oppression and the violence of the mighty, aligning with the theme of cries arising from unjust power.
Jeremiah 22:3This prophetic command emphasizes justice and righteousness, warning against oppression and violence by the mighty, which is the very source of the cries mentioned in Job 35:9.
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.
The verse highlights that people cry out from many oppressions and because of the arm of the mighty, emphasizing the sheer weight and force of their suffering. This isn't just about one bad day; it's about the pervasive pressure of powerful oppressors, making their cries a natural, desperate response to overwhelming earthly hardship.
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God ignores his suffering and the cries of the oppressed. Elihu acknowledges that people do cry out in pain when powerful individuals oppress them, but suggests that their cries often lack sincerity or a genuine turning to God for help. This sets up Elihu's argument that the reason for unheeded cries isn't God's indifference, but rather the nature of the cry itself and the oppressed person's heart.
Elihu is addressing Job's persistent complaints that God ignores his suffering and the cries of the oppressed. Elihu acknowledges that people do cry out in pain when powerful individuals oppress them, but suggests that their cries often lack sincerity or a genuine turning to God for help. This sets up Elihu's argument that the reason for unheeded cries isn't God's indifference, but rather the nature of the cry itself and the oppressed person's heart.
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"“Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty." — The verse highlights that people cry out from many oppressions and because of the arm of the mighty, emphasizing the sheer weight and force of their suffering. This isn't just about one bad day;…
