Job 21:9
בָּתֵּיהֶ֣ם שָׁלֹ֣ום מִפָּ֑חַד וְלֹ֤א שֵׁ֖בֶט אֱלֹ֣והַּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
The Illusion of Peace: בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלֹום מִפָּחַד
בָּתֵּיהֶם — “Their houses,” a construct form from בַּיִת (“house”) + 3rd person plural suffix. The construct state links directly to the following noun or description.
שָׁלֹום — Literally “peace,” this functions as the predicate noun, describing the state of the houses: peace, wholeness, well-being.
מִפָּחַד — “from fear” or “from dread.” The preposition מִן here indicates separation or exemption: the peace described is specifically freedom from fear.
Grammatical Insight: This is a verbless clause — common in Biblical Hebrew — where the noun functions as the predicate (“Their houses [are] peace from fear”). This rhetorical form heightens poetic intensity.
Negation and Divine Restraint: וְלֹא שֵׁבֶט אֱלֹוהַּ עֲלֵיהֶם
וְלֹא — The negative particle introducing the next clause: “and not.”
שֵׁבֶט — “Rod” or “staff.” This term frequently symbolizes authority, discipline, or judgment in Hebrew poetry and prophecy.
אֱלֹוהַּ — A poetic spelling of אֱלֹהִים, meaning “God.” This form often appears in poetic books like Job and Psalms, showing a more concise form. It is in construct with שֵׁבֶט: “the rod of God.”
עֲלֵיהֶם — “upon them,” a prepositional phrase referring back to the wicked in the larger context of Job 21.
Grammatical Insight: This clause is also verbless. The construction implies “there is not the rod of God upon them” — i.e., they are not being punished. The absence of action is framed as unjust silence from heaven, in Job’s argument.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Job 21:9
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| בָּתֵּיהֶם | ב־י־ת | Construct plural noun + 3mp suffix | “Their houses” — possessive relationship |
| שָׁלֹום | ש־ל־ם | Absolute noun | Predicate in verbless clause — “peace” |
| שֵׁבֶט | ש־ב־ט | Masculine noun | “Rod” — symbolizes judgment or authority |
| אֱלֹוהַּ | א־ל־ה | Poetic form of “God” | Construct with “rod” — “rod of God” |
The Silence of the Staff
Job 21:9 is a piercing protest against the apparent ease of the wicked. The verse is framed with verbless clauses that emphasize states of being — not action. Peace without fear. Freedom from divine discipline. The poetic grammar mirrors Job’s accusation: the wicked are untouched by justice. Not even the rod of God rests upon them. The grammar, like Job’s anguish, is both elegant and unsettling.
