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◄ Job 24:4►

New International Version
They thrust the needy from the path and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

New Living Translation
The poor are pushed off the path; the needy must hide together for safety.

English Standard Version
They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Berean Standard Bible
They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

King James Bible
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

New King James Version
They push the needy off the road; All the poor of the land are forced to hide.

New American Standard Bible
“They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land have to hide themselves together.

NASB 1995
“They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

NASB 1977
“They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

Legacy Standard Bible
They push the needy aside from the road; The afflicted of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.

Amplified Bible
“They crowd the needy off the road; The poor of the land all hide themselves.

Christian Standard Bible
They push the needy off the road; the poor of the land are forced into hiding.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They push the needy off the road; the poor of the land are forced into hiding.

American Standard Version
They turn the needy out of the way: The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Contemporary English Version
The poor are trampled and forced to hide

English Revised Version
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They force needy people off the road. All the poor people of the country go into hiding.

Good News Translation
They prevent the poor from getting their rights and force the needy to run and hide.

International Standard Version
They push the needy off the road, and force the poor of the land into hiding.

NET Bible
They turn the needy from the pathway, and the poor of the land hide themselves together.

New Heart English Bible
They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Webster's Bible Translation
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

World English Bible
They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
They turn aside the needy from the way, "" Together have hid the poor of the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
They turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.

Smith's Literal Translation
They will turn the needy from the Way: the poor of the earth hid themselves together.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have undermined the way of the poor, and have pressed together the meek of the earth.

New American Bible
They force the needy off the road; all the poor of the land are driven into hiding.

New Revised Standard Version
They thrust the needy off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The wicked hide themselves beside the road, and the meek of the earth hide together.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The evil have hidden themselves by the road, and the meek of the Earth hide themselves together

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
They turn the needy out of the way; The poor of the earth hide themselves together.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Job: Judgment for the Wicked
…3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge.4They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.5Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Proverbs 28:28
When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous flourish.

Isaiah 10:2
to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

James 2:6
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.

Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Luke 20:47
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Isaiah 3:14-15
The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Proverbs 22:22-23
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, / for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.

Matthew 25:42-45
For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, / I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ / And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ...

Treasury of Scripture

They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

turn

Job 24:14
The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

Job 31:16
If I have withheld the poor fromtheir desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Psalm 109:16
Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

hide

Proverbs 28:12,28
When righteousmen do rejoice,there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden…

James 5:4-6
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth…

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Job 24

1.Wickedness often goes unpunished
17.There is a secret judgment for the wicked

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

They push the needy off the road
This phrase highlights the social injustice prevalent during Job's time, where the powerful and wealthy would literally and metaphorically push the less fortunate aside. Roads were essential for trade and travel, and being pushed off the road signifies exclusion from economic and social participation. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's concern for justice and care for the marginalized, as seen in passages likeProverbs 31:8-9, which calls for defending the rights of the poor and needy.

and force all the poor of the land into hiding.
The poor being forced into hiding suggests severe oppression and fear of persecution. In ancient Near Eastern societies, the poor often had no legal recourse or protection, making them vulnerable to exploitation. This aligns with the biblical narrative of God as a defender of the oppressed, as seen inPsalm 12:5, where God promises to arise and protect the poor. The imagery of hiding also evokes the idea of seeking refuge, which is a recurring theme in the Psalms, where God is often depicted as a refuge for the oppressed. This phrase underscores the moral decay and lack of justice that Job laments throughout the book.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and questions the justice of God.

2.The Needy
Individuals who are vulnerable and lack resources, often marginalized by society.

3.The Poor of the Land
Those who are economically disadvantaged and oppressed, often forced into hiding due to societal injustices.

4.The Oppressors
Unnamed individuals or groups who exploit and mistreat the needy and poor, representing broader societal injustices.

5.The Land
Symbolic of the broader society or community where these injustices occur.

Teaching Points

Recognizing Injustice
As believers, we must be aware of the injustices around us and not turn a blind eye to the plight of the needy and poor.

Compassion and Action
True faith is demonstrated through acts of compassion and justice towards those who are marginalized and oppressed.

God's Heart for the Oppressed
Scripture consistently reveals God's concern for the poor and oppressed, calling us to align our hearts with His.

Personal Responsibility
Each believer has a role in advocating for justice and providing support to those in need within their community.

Eternal Perspective
While earthly systems may fail, believers are reminded of God's ultimate justice and the hope of restoration in His kingdom.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Job 24:4?

2.How does Job 24:4 illustrate the plight of the marginalized in society?

3.What actions can Christians take to support those "pushed off the road"?

4.How does Job 24:4 connect with Jesus' teachings on helping the needy?

5.Why is it important for believers to recognize injustices mentioned in Job 24:4?

6.How can your church address the issues highlighted in Job 24:4?

7.Why does God allow the poor to be mistreated as described in Job 24:4?

8.How does Job 24:4 challenge the belief in a just and fair God?

9.What historical context explains the social injustices mentioned in Job 24:4?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 24?

11.What biblical teachings address empathy?

12.Job 34:29 - If God can remain silent, how can we reliably distinguish divine justice from random events or coincidences?

13.Psalm 25:14 - Is there any concrete or historical evidence that God 'confides' in believers, or is it purely subjective and beyond verification?

14.How do we resolve the seeming conflict between Psalm 12:5, where God promises protection for the poor, and other biblical passages where the suffering of the righteous continues unabated?

What Does Job 24:4 Mean

They push the needy off the road

• In plain terms, Job observes how the powerful literally and figuratively shove vulnerable people out of the public way, denying them safe passage and visibility (seeProverbs 28:27;Isaiah 10:1–2).

• The “road” in ancient life is where commerce, justice, and community converge. Forcing the needy away means cutting them off from livelihood, legal recourse, and fellowship (compareLuke 10:30–32, where a victim is left helpless on the roadside).

• Scripture consistently condemns this abuse: “Do not exploit a widow or an orphan” (Exodus 22:22); “Do not rob the poor because he is poor” (Proverbs 22:22). Job’s protest aligns with the Law’s demand for fair access and protection.

and force all the poor of the land into hiding

• The outcasts must conceal themselves to survive, much like David hiding from Saul (1 Samuel 23:15) or Elijah from Ahab (1 Kings 17:3). Oppression drives the innocent underground.

• Hiding signals swallowed hope.Psalm 10:8–10 pictures wicked men lurking “in ambush” so that the helpless are “crushed.” Job laments a society where the powerless cannot appear in daylight without danger.

• Throughout Scripture God promises to be “a refuge for the oppressed” (Psalm 9:9), pledging eventual justice (James 5:4). Job trusts this, yet he wrestles with the present gap between God’s character and visible reality.

summary

Job 24:4 highlights systemic cruelty: the strong eject the needy from shared spaces and force the impoverished into secrecy. Job’s complaint underscores the moral disorder he sees—one that flouts God’s revealed concern for the defenseless. Even as Job affirms divine justice, he exposes human injustice, urging readers to protect access, dignity, and visibility for every image-bearer.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. -They turn the needy out of the way. Either "they force poor men to turn out of the road when they are using it, and wait till they have passed" (compare the recent practice of the Japanese daimios), or "they make the highways so dangerous with their violence that they compel the poor and needy to seek byways for safety" (Judges 5:6). The second hemistich favours the latter interpretation.The poor of the earth (or,the meek of the earth)hide themselves together. In the East there have always been superior and subject races, as well as proud nobles and down-trodden men of the same race. It is not clear of which of these two Job speaks. The former were often hunted out of all the desirable lands, and forced to fly to rooks and caves and holes in the ground, whence they were known as "Troglodytes." The latter, less frequently, handed together, and withdrew to remote and sequestered spots, where they might hope to live unmolested by their oppressors (Hebrews 11:38).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

They push
יַטּ֣וּ(yaṭ·ṭū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5186:To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

the needy
אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים(’eḇ·yō·w·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 34:In want, needy, poor

off the road
מִדָּ֑רֶךְ(mid·dā·reḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of action

and force all
יַ֥חַד(ya·ḥaḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3162:A unit, unitedly

the poor
עֲנִיֵּי־(‘ă·nî·yê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6035:Poor, afflicted, humble, meek

of the land
אָֽרֶץ׃(’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, land

into hiding.
חֻ֝בְּא֗וּ(ḥub·bə·’ū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2244:To withdraw, hide

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OT Poetry: Job 24:4 They turn the needy out (Jb)