Job 24:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In Scripture, "morning" can symbolize several concepts: the coming of the Incarnate Savior, impending divine judgment, or even earthly prosperity. The Incarnation is described as "morning" in Isaiah, where it is said, "The morning draweth nigh, but it is yet night" (Isaiah 21:12), indicating that although a new light shines through the appearance of our Redeemer, the darkness of error remains in the hearts of His persecutors. The Psalmist associates "morning" with judgment when he proclaims, "Early in the morning I will destroy all the wicked of the earth" (Psalms 100:8). Regarding the righteous, it is stated, "In the morning I will stand in Thy presence, and I will wait" (Psalms 5:4). Moreover, Solomon captures the idea of worldly prosperity linked to "morning" when he warns, "Woe unto thee, O earth, when thy king is a young man, and when thy princes eat in the morning" (Ecclesiastes 10:16).

The morning represents the beginning of the day, while evening signifies its end. We should prioritize the eternal truths which relate to life after this world over the fleeting comforts of our current existence. Those who "eat in the morning" are those who, focusing solely on their earthly achievements, disregard everlasting matters. Indeed, anyone who harbors hatred for his brother is guilty of murder (1 John 3:15). Hence, a "murderer rises with the dawn," for the wicked person seeks the transient glory of the present and undermines the lives of those who hope for the fulfillment that comes later.

In seeking worldly power, the evil doer becomes ever more aggressive, striving to seize what is harmful, especially as there are fewer people he loves with compassion. Each time he harbors anger against what is good, he metaphorically takes the life of the innocent. Should God allow him to lose his hard-won status, he may change his circumstances but not his character; he then becomes a thief in the night. In his time of suffering and emptiness, though he may lack the ability to act cruelly himself, he provides counsel to those who wield power and wanders aimlessly, exploiting any opportunity to corrupt the good.

He is aptly called a "thief" because he is fearful of being exposed for his wicked schemes. Thus, he is both a murderer towards the destitute in the morning and a hidden thief at night. The wicked person, who destroys the lives of the humble during prosperous times, resorts to covert evil deeds when faced with adversity. What he cannot accomplish independently, he seeks to fulfill by aligning himself with the powerful of this world. And so, it continues:

In contrast, the wicked experience none of these tribulations: acts of theft and violence are as commonplace for them as sheep grazing in the field; their most egregious actions go unpunished (24:1-12); some, perhaps to conceal the malignancy of their actions, shroud them in the cover of night (13-17); on all such individuals, as well as the oppressors, a heavy curse and calamity ought to descend (18-24). Yet, does this reflect reality? Hence, Job firmly believes, in stark opposition to the views held by his friends, that his assertions regarding the contradiction of prosperity and virtue are justified (25).