What Does Job 36:17 Mean in the King James?

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

Job 36:17 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Hebrew repeats one word where English says “judgment and justice,” then uses a verb that can mean both to take hold and to uphold.

THE MEANING

Judgment is not a detached idea here: it takes hold of the person it concerns. The verb can also describe being upheld, so the image carries a hard double edge, consequence can grip, and support can sustain.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Justice is only an abstract principle, safely separate from the person it concerns.

THE ROOT

יִתְמֹכוּךָ

yitmokhukha

GROWS FROM

תמך

t-m-k

to hold, support, or sustain

The verb translated “take hold” comes from a root that also means to uphold or support. The same Hebrew root appears where Isaiah says “I will uphold thee,” leaving both the grip of judgment and the strength of support inside the word.

ALSO GROWS

tamak: to hold, support, or sustain

תָּמַךְ

Its range shows that “take hold” can carry the sense of support as well as grasp.

temakhtikha: “I will uphold you” (Isaiah 41:10)

תְּמַכְתִּיךָ

The same root explicitly describes being upheld, bringing its sustaining sense into view.

tamakhta bi: “You uphold me” (Psalm 41:12)

תָּמַכְתָּ בִּי

Here the same root describes a person being held in support.

דִּין וָדִּין

din va-din

GROWS FROM

דין

d-y-n

to judge or decide a case

The Hebrew phrase repeats ⁨דִּין⁩ (din, “judgment”) where the KJV gives “judgment and justice.” The repetition ties both English terms to one word, rather than presenting two separate forces.

ALSO GROWS

din: judgment or a legal case

דִּין

This is the noun repeated in the phrase translated “judgment and justice.”

dan: “he judged”; the name Dan is linked to “God hath judged me” (Genesis 30:6)

דָּן

The related form turns judgment from an abstract noun into an act that touches a person.

yadin: “he will judge” (Genesis 49:16)

יָדִין

This verb form shows the same root in motion: judgment being carried out.

THE PATTERN

Scripture uses the language of being held for both the grip of judgment and the support that keeps a life standing.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 · KJVThe same Hebrew root as Job’s “take hold” is rendered “uphold,” making its sustaining sense explicit.

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

Psalm 41:12 · KJVThe same root describes being upheld, with holding as support rather than judgment.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Hebrews 1:3 · KJVThe image widens from one person to all things, described as upheld by the word of power.

THE THREAD

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 · KJV

Job’s “take hold” and Isaiah’s “uphold” share the Hebrew root ⁨תמך⁩ (tamak, “to hold or support”). Isaiah makes the sustaining sense clear inside a word Job uses in the hard setting of judgment, while Job’s force remains intact.

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