Job 35:9

9 When people are oppressed, they groan; they cry for someone to save them.

Job 35:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 35:9

By reason of the multitude of oppressions, they make [the
oppressed] to cry
Which is either an illustration by an instance of what is before said, that wickedness hurts men, as particularly oppression does, which makes then cry; or this refers to something new, to another complaint of Job, or an undue expression of his. Elihu undertakes to answer; that men cry unto God, as he himself had, but are not heard and answered; the place or places referred to may be ( Job 24:12 ) ( 19:7 ) ( 30:20 ) . To which Elihu replies, by granting that men oppressed cry because of their oppression, and are not heard; for which reasons may be given, as in the following verses. The poor are often oppressed by the rich, whose wealth gives them power, and that they abuse; and the weak and feeble by the mighty; and their oppressions are many, there is a multitude of them: men in power and authority have various ways of oppressing others, who like the Israelites cry by reason of them, and are made to cry by their oppressors;

they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty;
which falls with weight, and lies heavy upon them, and crushes them; meaning the power they have, and which they abuse to the injury of them; nor are they able to help themselves or deliver themselves out of their hands, they being mighty, if not in body, yet through wealth; and by means of that authority over them which gives it them: now on account of the pressure upon them, they cry, not to God, but to men: and if they cry to God, it is in a murmuring and complaining way, through impatience under their burden, through envy at the riches and power of others, in a passionate manner, in a revengeful spirit, calling and seeking for vengeance on their oppressors; not in an humble penitent manner, acknowledging their sins, and owning their unworthiness to be heard and regarded, and submitting all to the will of God: for which reasons they are not heard, their cries and, prayers being reckoned no other than howlings, ( Hosea 7:14 ) .

Job 35:9 In-Context

7 Do you help God by being so righteous? There is nothing God needs from you.
8 Others suffer from your sins, and the good you do helps them.
9 When people are oppressed, they groan; they cry for someone to save them.
10 But they don't turn to God, their Creator, who gives them hope in their darkest hours.
11 They don't turn to God, who makes us wise, wiser than any animal or bird.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.