Job 24:21 - Exposition

He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not . Oppressors of another class are perhaps here spoken of, or perhaps there is a mere return to the idea with which Job's enumeration opened (verse 3), which was the oppression of the weaker and more defenceless classes. As barrenness in women was considered the greatest possible misfortune ( 1 Samuel 1:5-8 ; 1 Samuel 3:1-10 ), so oppressing one that was barren indicated extreme cruelty . And doeth not good to the widow ; i.e. neglects to vindicate her cause—an admitted part of man's duty (see Job 22:9 ; Job 29:13 ; Job 31:16 ).