Job 21:10 – “Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
In Job 21:10, Job continues his reflection on the prosperity of the wicked, pointing out that not only do they live in peace and security, but even their livestock thrive. Their bulls are fertile and their cows give birth without miscarrying. In the agricultural world of Job’s time, the health and productivity of livestock were key signs of wealth and success. So, when Job observes that the wicked are experiencing this kind of prosperity, it adds to his sense of confusion and frustration. He’s pointing out that the people who reject God seem to enjoy every form of blessing, even in areas as specific as the fertility of their animals.
For Job, this observation highlights the seeming unfairness of life. If the world operated according to the traditional understanding that God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked, then the wicked shouldn’t be experiencing such success. Yet, they do, and Job is left to grapple with the question of why things don’t seem to work out as expected.
Historical Context
In the ancient world, especially in Job’s time, wealth was often measured by the size and health of one’s livestock. Livestock were a source of income, food, and social status. Having fertile animals and successful breeding was seen as a sign of God’s blessing. For Job to observe that the wicked, who do not honor God, are experiencing such abundance would have been a shock, because it challenged the belief that God’s blessings were reserved for the righteous.
Job’s friends have been arguing that suffering is always a result of sin, and blessing is always a reward for righteousness. However, Job points to examples like this, where those who live wickedly seem to enjoy the very blessings that should belong to the godly. This contrast serves as a major theme in the Book of Job, as Job wrestles with the tension between what he sees and what he believes about God’s justice.
Theological Implications
Job 21:10 brings up important theological questions about the nature of God’s blessings and the timing of His justice. This verse challenges the idea that all blessings in this life are direct rewards for righteousness. Sometimes, as Job observes, those who live in opposition to God still experience prosperity. This can be confusing, especially when we expect life to be fair in the short term.
However, the Bible teaches that while the wicked may prosper for a time, this doesn’t mean they are beyond God’s justice. Scripture consistently reminds us that God’s judgment may be delayed, but it is certain. The prosperity of the wicked in this life is temporary, and it does not mean that God is unaware or unconcerned with their actions. Instead, it points to the complexity of life in a fallen world, where blessings and hardships are not always distributed according to human expectations.
Literary Analysis
Job 21:10 is part of Job’s broader response to his friends, and the language is clear and descriptive. Job is using the example of livestock breeding successfully to illustrate the broader point that the wicked seem to experience all kinds of blessings. The imagery of animals reproducing without issue is a powerful one because it was a clear sign of wealth and stability in the ancient world. For Job, this represents just one more area where the wicked seem to thrive while the righteous suffer.
The verse is part of a pattern in this chapter, where Job lists various ways in which the wicked enjoy success. By focusing on something as specific as livestock, Job is showing the depth of his frustration—every aspect of the wicked’s lives, down to their animals, seems to flourish, while he, a righteous man, has lost everything.
Biblical Cross-References
Job’s observation in this verse connects with other biblical passages that wrestle with the prosperity of the wicked and the apparent delay of God’s justice:
- Psalm 73:3-5 – The psalmist laments the prosperity of the wicked, saying they have no struggles and are healthy and strong.
- Jeremiah 12:1 – Jeremiah asks why the wicked prosper and why God seems to allow them to live at ease.
- Ecclesiastes 8:14 – “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.” This verse echoes Job’s frustration with the reversal of expectations regarding justice.
These cross-references show that Job’s question is not unique—others throughout Scripture have wrestled with the same issue of why the wicked sometimes seem to prosper.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, Job 21:10 serves as a reminder that life in this world is not always fair, and God’s justice may not always be visible in the short term. Just as Job saw wicked people thriving in areas like their livestock, we may see people who live without regard for God’s ways enjoying success in business, relationships, or health. This can be discouraging, but Job’s story teaches us to trust that God’s justice will ultimately prevail, even if it’s not immediately obvious.
This verse encourages us to keep our eyes on God’s eternal plan, rather than getting caught up in the temporary successes of others. Our hope is not in the blessings of this life, but in the promises of eternal life with God. While we may not always understand why some people seem to prosper despite their wickedness, we can trust that God is in control and that His justice will be done in the end.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
Job 21:10 might make it seem like God is indifferent to the success of the wicked, but this is not the case. God’s love is patient and long-suffering, even toward those who reject Him. Scripture tells us that God desires all people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and the fact that the wicked sometimes prosper is a sign of God’s mercy, giving them time to turn back to Him.
However, God’s love doesn’t mean that He ignores sin. The temporary success of the wicked is just that—temporary. God’s justice will come, and those who persist in wickedness will face the consequences of their actions. In the meantime, we can trust that God’s love extends even to those who are far from Him, as He continues to offer opportunities for repentance and salvation.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Job 21:10 connects to Jesus Christ in several ways. Jesus Himself lived in a world where the righteous often suffered while the wicked prospered. Jesus, who was sinless, was rejected and crucified by wicked men, while many who opposed God continued to live in comfort. Yet, through His death and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.
Jesus also taught about the nature of true blessing. In Matthew 5:3-12, Jesus describes the “blessed” as those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. This teaching flips the world’s understanding of success and blessing on its head, showing that true blessing is not found in wealth, health, or outward prosperity, but in a relationship with God.
Furthermore, Jesus’ parables often spoke of the delayed nature of God’s judgment. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), Jesus explains that the wicked and the righteous will grow together for a time, but a day of judgment is coming when they will be separated. This parable helps us understand that while the wicked may prosper for a season, God’s justice will be fully revealed in the end.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Have you ever felt frustrated when you saw people who reject God’s ways prospering? How did you handle those feelings?
- What does Job’s observation about the prosperity of the wicked teach us about trusting God’s justice, even when we don’t see it right away?
- How can we shift our focus from temporary success to eternal rewards in God’s kingdom?
- How does Jesus’ own experience of suffering and injustice give us hope when life seems unfair?
- How can we rest in the knowledge that God’s love and justice are perfectly balanced, even when the wicked seem to thrive?
Job 21:10 challenges us to trust in God’s ultimate justice, even when life doesn’t seem fair. While the wicked may prosper for a time, we can take comfort in knowing that God sees all and that His justice will be revealed in His perfect timing. Through Jesus, we find hope and assurance that the unfairness of this world is temporary, and that true blessing comes from our relationship with God.