Job 38:15

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

And from the evil-doers their light is kept back, and the arm of pride is broken.

Webster's Revision

And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.

World English Bible

From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.

English Revised Version (ERV)

And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.

Barnes's Job 38:15 Bible Commentary

And from the wicked their light is withholden - While the light thus spreads over the earth, rendering every object beautiful and blessing the righteous, light and prosperity are withheld from the wicked; see the notes at Job 24:17. Or, the meaning may be, that when the light shines upon the world, the wicked, accustomed to perform their deeds in the night, flee from it, and retreat to their dark hiding-places.

And the high arm - Of the wicked. The arm is a symbol of strength. It is that by which we accomplish our purposes, and the idea here is, that the haughty power of the oppressor shall be crushed. The connection here seems to be this. In Job 38:12-14, there is a beautiful description of the light, and of its effects upon the appearance of natural objects. It was such as to clothe the world with beauty, and to fill the heart of the pious with gladness. In order now to show the greatness of the punishment of the wicked, it is added that all this beauty will be hidden from them. They will be driven away by the light into their dark hiding-places, and will be met there with the withdrawal of all the tokens of prosperity, and their power will be crushed.

Wesley's Job 38:15 Bible Commentary

38:15 Withheld - That light which enjoyed by others is withholden from them, either by their own choice, because they chuse darkness rather than light; or by the judgment of God, or the magistrate, by whom they are cut off from the light of the living. Arms - Their great strength which they used to the oppression of others.