Job 34:27 · Bible study
Job 34:27 Commentary: Turning Away and Refusing to Consider God's Ways
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Job 34:27: why Elihu identifies the wicked's refusal to consider God's ways as the root of divine judgment. Commentary, background, and study resources.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The wicked are judged because they willfully turned from following God and refused to consider his ways.
- Key words: “turned aside” (סָרוּ), active departure; “considered” (הִשְׂכִּילוּ), to act wisely, pay attention; “ways” (דְּרָכָיו), moral and providential paths.
- Main debate: Whether “his ways” refers primarily to God’s commands (Barnes) or also to his works of providence (Gill, Keil). Both are present, but emphasis varies.
- Theological theme: Sin begins with a heart that rejects God’s authority, not only with wrong actions. The root of evil is relational, not merely behavioral.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on the nature of sin, the need for repentance of the heart, and the justice of God that responds to oppression.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
WEB World English Bible 2000
because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
KJV King James Version 1769
Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por cuanto así se apartaron de él, y no consideraron todos sus caminos;
Pois eles se desviaram de segui-lo, e não deram atenção a nenhum de seus caminhos.
En se détournant de lui,
darum daß sie von ihm weggewichen sind und verstanden seiner Wege keinen,
Daarom dat zij van achter Hem afgeweken zijn, en geen Zijner wegen verstaan hebben;
perché si sono sviati da lui e non hanno posto mente ad alcuna delle sue vie;
Przeto, iż odstąpili od niego, a żadnych dróg jego zrozumieć nie chcieli:
за то, что они отвратились от Него и не уразумели всех путей Его,
因為 他們 偏行 不跟從他，也不 留心 他的道，
Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Job 34:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Job 34:27 gives the theological reason for God’s judgment on wicked rulers. Elihu states that the evil they suffer comes because they turned away from following him and would not pay attention to any of his ways. Barnes notes that “turned back from him” means they receded or went away from God, and “would not consider any of his ways” shows they disregarded his commands, the Hebrew way often refers to religion itself. Gill adds that they became apostates, even from knowledge they once held. The core sin is not a list of misdeeds but a willful departure from God himself and a refusal to regard his guidance. The Cambridge Bible connects this to God’s unerring justice: he punishes oppression because the wicked have first abandoned him. Matthew Henry underscores that this is why God overturns tyrants, their turning away is the seed of every wrong. The unanimous sense is that the wicked’s fundamental problem is a heart set against God, not merely bad behavior.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The wicked are judged because they willfully turned away from following God and refused to consider his ways.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Who are 'they' in v. 27? | Commentators agree the immediate context points to oppressive rulers (vv. 24, 26, 28, 30). | Some see a broader application: Gill includes the posterity of Cain and Ham, acting as types of the ungodly. |
| What does 'turned back from him' mean? | All agree it denotes a willful departure, an apostasy from following God. | Minor nuance: whether it implies they once knew God (Gill: 'educated and trained up') or is simply a refusal to follow him. |
| What are 'his ways'? | They include God's commands, precepts, and the course of his providence. | Barnes focuses on 'religion' and precepts; Gill includes both mercy and judgment as ways of providence. |
| Why does Elihu emphasize the root cause rather than specific sins? | To show that judgment is always morally grounded in a prior rejection of God. | Some see this as Elihu’s theological point (Keil: 'logical inference'), others as a pastoral call for Job to examine his own heart (Matthew Henry). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Elihu’s speech in Job 32, 37 addresses both Job and his friends. In chapter 34 he defends God’s justice by arguing that God sees all human actions and repays evil without partiality. Verses 24, 26 describe how God breaks mighty oppressors and strikes them as wicked in public view. Verse 27 then gives the cause: “because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways.” The surrounding context (vv. 28, 30) shows that their turning away led to oppressing the poor, so that the cry of the afflicted reached God.
In ancient Israel, rulers were expected to reflect divine justice. When they ignored God’s ways, his commands, his works, his character, they inevitably became tyrants. The Hebrew verb sur (turn aside) often carries the sense of willful apostasy; it is used of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:11 (“he has turned back from following me”). The word ways (דְּרָכָיו) covers both God’s precepts and his providence. Elihu’s point is that the wicked do not merely commit isolated sins; they reject the entire path of wisdom and submission to God. This fits the wisdom tradition (Proverbs 1:29, 30; Psalm 107:43) where hating knowledge and refusing the fear of the Lord is the root of ruin. Elihu thus diagnoses the heart disease behind the symptoms of oppression. For his audience, this reframed the problem of evil: judgment is not arbitrary but follows a prior, willful turning away from the source of all goodness.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for Job 34:27. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and modern translations (WEB, BSB, ESV, etc.) agree on the verse’s wording. Some older versions (Douay-Rheims) expand the idea with 'as it were on purpose,' reflecting interpretive nuance rather than a different Hebrew reading.
Reception History
Early Christian writers saw in this verse the biblical diagnosis of sin as auersio a Deo, a turning away from God, which precedes all particular transgressions. Augustine drew on similar passages to define sin as the soul’s withdrawal from the immutable Good. In the Reformation, Job 34:27 was cited as evidence that even the outward sins of the wicked spring from an inner refusal to honor God; Calvin used it to argue that unbelief, not ignorance, lies at the root of evil. Later, Puritan commentators like Matthew Henry applied it to rulers, warning that neglecting God’s ways leads to national judgment. In modern evangelical preaching, the verse is often used to call believers back to the first love and to warn that ignoring God’s direction hardens the heart.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The root of wickedness is a willful departure from God. The wicked “turned aside from following him.” This is not a passive drift but an active choice to abandon God as Lord.
- The refusal to consider God’s ways compounds the sin. They “would not pay attention to any of his ways.” Ignorance is not the issue; willful neglect is. They close their eyes to his commands and his works.
- This heart posture brings divine judgment. Because they have left God and ignored his direction, their oppression of the poor follows, and God steps in to set things right.
Five-Point Outline
- God’s judgment is never capricious, it has reasons that can be understood.
- The wicked’s first move is departure from God. Sin starts with a break in relationship, not just a broken rule.
- Then comes the refusal to consider God’s ways. They harden themselves against his instruction, his providence, and his discipline.
- This inner turning away produces outer oppression. When rulers stop fearing God, the poor suffer.
- God hears the cry of the afflicted and acts. His judgment is both just and compassionate.
Illustration Hooks
- A trusted employee who once followed the company’s rules begins ignoring instructions, then makes decisions that harm others. The problem started in the heart before it showed in actions.
- A student who stops attending class and refuses to study. The failure is not just bad grades; it is a deliberate choice to ignore the path that leads to success.
- Someone who knows the right thing but says, “I don’t want to think about it.” That decision to look away is itself the core of the sin.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why does God allow corrupt leaders to remain in power for so long?
- Is my sin just a mistake, or is it a sign that I have turned away from God on the inside?
- How can I tell if I am truly “considering God’s ways” or just going through religious motions?
Leading a Discussion
Elihu’s words cut to the heart of why people do evil. It is not just that they commit wrongs; they first turn away from God and refuse to think about how he wants them to live. This passage calls us to examine the direction of our own hearts, not just our outward actions.
Discussion Questions
- What does Elihu say is the cause of God’s judgment in verse 27? How does it connect to the surrounding passage?
- The Hebrew verb sur means “to turn aside” or “depart.” Why is it significant that the wicked are described as having turned away from following God?
- What does “would not consider any of his ways” tell us about the mindset of the wicked? How does this go beyond simply committing sins?
- Read Psalm 107:43 and Proverbs 1:29, 30. How do these verses reinforce or expand on the idea in Job 34:27?
- In your own words, what is the relationship between “turning away from God” and “oppressing the poor” that Elihu describes in verses 27, 28?
- Think of a time when you have been tempted to ignore what you know God wants. What made that choice feel easier than stopping to consider his ways?
- How can a community of faith help each other stay in the habit of “paying attention to God’s ways” instead of drifting away?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 15:11 | “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night. |
| Psalms 28:5 | Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up. |
| Psalms 107:43 | Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh. |
| Psalms 125:5 | But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel. |
| Proverbs 1:29 | because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. |
| Proverbs 1:30 | They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. |
| Isaiah 1:3 | The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.” |
| Isaiah 5:12 | The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; but they don’t respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they considered the operation of his hands. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that these rulers turned away from God in their hearts actions and leadership. They refused to understand God’s ways. Their rejection led God to punish them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the biblical term "way" often refers to religion itself, so that God's ways mean his laws and commands. To turn away from God and refuse to consider his ways is simply another way of saying a person has no true religion.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Christians who hold this view point to Job 34:27, while others emphasize verses that describe God’s mercy toward sinners. Both seek to be faithful to Scripture.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights a double offense: these people not only turned away from God, but also refused to consider or reflect on His ways at all. Their guilt lies in both active rejection and willful neglect.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies these people as apostates who were raised in God's ways but deliberately turned from Him, including the descendants of Cain before the flood and of Ham after it. Their stubborn wills would not give any thought to God's providence or commandments.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that the wicked's failure to consider God's ways is shown in a concrete act: oppression. By causing the poor to cry out, they demonstrate exactly how they ignored God. This oppression is the specific ground for their punishment.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that God does not need to investigate the mighty because their works are immediately plain to Him. The night mentioned is not something God brings but the time when He suddenly overthrows them. Rulers are struck publicly as evildoers because they deliberately turned from God to oppress the poor.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange defends Elihu against charges of being a mere imitator or overly harsh. He argues that the plain, unadorned style of these discourses is intentional, serving as a preacher of repentance, and that Elihu's strong words target Job's arrogant speeches against God, not Job himself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that those who reject God’s authority do so because they turn away from him and ignore his ways. They bring their own suffering to him, yet he hears their cries.