The Meaning of Job 22:7 Explained

Job 22:7

KJV: Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

YLT: Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.

Darby: Thou hast not given water to the fainting to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

ASV: Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast not given water  to the weary  to drink,  and thou hast withholden  bread  from the hungry. 

What does Job 22:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 22:1-30 - "acquaint Thyself With God"
Eliphaz opens the third cycle of the discussion with a speech altogether too hard and cruel. He begins with an enumeration of Job's fancied misdeeds, Job 22:1-11. The fundamental position with Eliphaz was the absolute, even-handed justice of God. In contrast with the oriental magnate who is influenced by gifts, God at least was unimpeachable; and therefore, however Job might affirm the contrary, he must have deserved the chastisement which had befallen him.
Then follows his argument from the Deluge, Job 22:12-20. Evil men are always anxious to think that God does not notice them. This was, says Eliphaz, the policy of those who were destroyed by the Flood. They attempted to build society on atheistic lines, though he filled their houses with good things. The inference, of course, was that Job had been guilty of the same offense, Eliphaz concludes with a tender delineation of a holy life, Job 22:21-30. To be reconciled to God, to obey His Word, to put away iniquity and trust in earthly riches, are the conditions of blessedness. We shall gain more than we lose, Job 22:25. We shall inherit the confidence and joy of His presence, Job 22:26. Our prayers will be answered; we shall walk "in the light;" and our ministry to others will be full of helpfulness. Let us, then, acquaint ourselves with God and be at peace! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 22

1  Eliphaz shows that man's goodness profits not God
5  He accuses Job of various sins
21  He exhorts him to repentance, with promises of mercy

What do the individual words in Job 22:7 mean?

Not water the weary You have given to drink and from the hungry you have withheld bread
לֹא־ מַ֭יִם עָיֵ֣ף תַּשְׁקֶ֑ה וּ֝מֵרָעֵ֗ב תִּֽמְנַֽע־ לָֽחֶם

מַ֭יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
עָיֵ֣ף  the  weary 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָיֵף  
Sense: faint, exhausted, weary.
תַּשְׁקֶ֑ה  You  have  given  to  drink 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁקָה  
Sense: to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water.
וּ֝מֵרָעֵ֗ב  and  from  the  hungry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָעֵב 
Sense: to be hungry, be voracious.
תִּֽמְנַֽע־  you  have  withheld 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָנַע  
Sense: to withhold, hold back, keep back, refrain, deny, keep restrain, hinder.
לָֽחֶם  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.