Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
You have sent widows away with nothing, and you have crushed the strength of orphans.
The writer is accusing Job of mistreating the most vulnerable people in society - widows and orphans - by refusing to help them when they needed it most.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, this verse is part of a speech by Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, who falsely accuses Job of oppressing the vulnerable as a way to explain Job's suffering. In ancient Israelite culture, widows and orphans were seen as particularly defenseless groups that God commanded His people to protect and provide for, as emphasized in the laws of the Old Testament. Eliphaz's accusation reflects a common worldview of the time that linked personal misfortune directly to sin, though the book of Job ultimately challenges this idea.
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