Lexical Summary avil: Fool, foolish Original Word: עֲוִיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ungodly From aval; perverse (morally) -- ungodly. see HEBREW aval NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as evel Definition unjust one NASB Translation ruffians (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עֲוִיל noun masculine unjust one, Job 16:11 (see following). Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 5760 designates a person who is morally twisted—one whose inner rebellion expresses itself in injustice toward God and neighbor. The sole biblical occurrence (Job 16:11) places the term on the lips of Job as he laments his apparent abandonment to men of such character. While rare in its specific form, the word sits within a family of Hebrew terms for perversion and iniquity, enriching Scripture’s multi-faceted portrayal of human depravity and reminding readers that wickedness is never merely an act but a disposition. Context in the Book of Job Job’s complaint, “God has delivered me to the ungodly and cast me into the hands of the wicked” (Job 16:11), emerges from a larger dialogue in which he defends his integrity against friends who interpret his suffering as divine retribution. By naming his oppressors “ungodly,” Job does more than describe their actions; he diagnoses their spiritual condition. The label underscores the injustice of Job’s plight: the righteous sufferer is surrendered to those least qualified to judge him. In Job’s narrative arc, this intensifies the tension between experiential reality and God’s covenant justice, setting the stage for the Lord’s eventual vindication in Job 42. Semantic Field and Related Terms Though a hapax legomenon, the word shares its root with several more common Hebrew nouns and verbs that speak of injustice (for example, “iniquity” in Jeremiah 2:5, “unjust” in Leviticus 19:15). The cluster highlights three elements: 1. Moral distortion—bending what is straight (compare Proverbs 2:15). Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency: Job attributes his situation to God’s governance, yet simultaneously indicts human perpetrators. Scripture consistently maintains both truths (Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23). Historical Interpretation Early Jewish expositors linked Job’s “ungodly” accusers with the Chaldeans and Sabeans of Job 1, seeing national enemies as types of moral perversity. Patristic writers such as Gregory the Great treated them allegorically as demonic forces. Reformation commentators stressed the pastoral point: believers may be delivered into hostile hands without forfeiting divine favor, urging perseverance under trial. Messianic Projection Job functions as a righteous sufferer whose experience foreshadows Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:9 notes that the Servant “had done no violence,” yet He was “numbered with the transgressors.” In Luke 22:37 Jesus applies the verse to Himself, echoing Job’s cry. Thus the lone appearance of Strong’s 5760 contributes to the typological trajectory culminating at the Cross, where the Holy One was handed over to “lawless men” (Acts 2:23). Practical Ministry Applications • Counseling the Afflicted: Job’s candor legitimizes lament without endorsing unbelief. The term reminds sufferers that hostile treatment may come from those fundamentally opposed to God, not as proof of divine displeasure. Homiletical Insights A sermon on Job 16:11 can explore three movements: the reality of unjust suffering, the mystery of divine permission, and the assurance of ultimate vindication. Illustrations may draw from Joseph’s imprisonment or Paul’s beatings, each showing that God’s providence employs even the ungodly to advance His righteous purposes. Related New Testament Parallels Romans 4:5; 1 Peter 4:18; 2 Peter 2:6 maintain the Old Testament contrast between the ungodly and the righteous, yet reveal the Gospel’s radical grace—God justifies the very people His law condemns when they trust in Christ. The continuity underscores Scripture’s unified witness: the problem of ungodliness is answered finally and fully in the atoning work of Jesus. Forms and Transliterations עֲוִ֑יל עויל ‘ă·wîl ‘ăwîl aVilLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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