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Job 35

BSB·16 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1And Elihuאֱלִיה֗וּ’ĕ·lî·hū — God is HeH453 — Full Word Study → went onוַיַּ֥עַןway·ya·‘an — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → to sayוַיֹּאמַֽר׃way·yō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: 2Do you thinkחָשַׁ֣בְתָּḥā·šaḇ·tā — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → thisהֲ֭זֹאתhă·zōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → is justלְמִשְׁפָּ֑טlə·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →? You sayאָ֝מַ֗רְתָּ’ā·mar·tā — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, ‘I am more righteousצִדְקִ֥יṣiḏ·qî — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → than Godמֵאֵֽל׃mê·’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →.’ 3Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → you askתֹ֭אמַרṯō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, ‘Whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → does it profitיִּסְכָּן־yis·kān- — to be profitable, useful, or advantageousH5532 — Full Word Study → me, and whatמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → benefit do I gainאֹ֝עִ֗יל’ō·‘îl — to profit, gain advantage, benefitH3276 — Full Word Study → apart from sinמֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃mê·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯî — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →?’ 4Iאֲ֭נִי’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → will replyאֲשִֽׁיבְךָ֣’ă·šî·ḇə·ḵā — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to youמִלִּ֑יןmil·lîn — speech, word, matter, thing saidH4405 — Full Word Study → and to your friendsרֵעֶ֥יךָrê·‘e·ḵā — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study → as wellעִמָּֽךְ׃‘im·māḵ — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study →. 5Lookהַבֵּ֣טhab·bêṭ — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study → to the heavensשָׁמַ֣יִםšā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → and seeוּרְאֵ֑הū·rə·’êh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →; gazeוְשׁ֥וּרwə·šūr — To see, observe, or watchH7789 — Full Word Study → at the cloudsשְׁ֝חָקִ֗יםšə·ḥā·qîm — cloud; dust; heaven; skyH7834 — Full Word Study → highגָּבְה֥וּgā·ḇə·hū — to rise up, exalt, or be proud; to make highH1361 — Full Word Study → above youמִמֶּֽךָּ׃mim·me·kā — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →. 6Ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → you sinחָ֭טָאתָḥā·ṭā·ṯā — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study →, whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → do you accomplishתִּפְעָל־tip̄·‘āl- — to do, work, make, performH6466 — Full Word Study → against Him? If you multiplyוְרַבּ֥וּwə·rab·bū — to multiply, increase in number or abundanceH7231 — Full Word Study → your transgressionsפְ֝שָׁעֶ֗יךָp̄ə·šā·‘e·ḵā — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study →, whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → do you doתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta·‘ă·śeh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → to Him? 7Ifאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → you are righteousצָ֭דַקְתָּṣā·ḏaq·tā — To be righteous, justify, vindicateH6663 — Full Word Study →, whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → do you giveתִּתֶּן־tit·ten- — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → Him, orא֥וֹ’ōw — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → whatמַה־mah- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → does He receiveיִקָּֽח׃yiq·qāḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → from your handמִיָּדְךָ֥mî·yā·ḏə·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →? 8Your wickednessרִשְׁעֶ֑ךָriš·‘e·ḵā — Wickedness, moral evil, depravityH7562 — Full Word Study → affects only a manלְאִישׁ־lə·’îš- — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → like yourselfכָּמ֥וֹךָkā·mō·w·ḵā — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study →, and your righteousnessצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃ṣiḏ·qā·ṯe·ḵā — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study → only a sonוּלְבֶן־ū·lə·ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of manאָ֝דָ֗ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →. 9Men cry outיַזְעִ֑יקוּyaz·‘î·qū — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → under greatמֵ֭רֹבmê·rōḇ — Abundance, multitude, or great quantityH7230 — Full Word Study → oppressionעֲשׁוּקִ֣ים‘ă·šū·qîm — Oppression, crushing burden, exploitationH6217 — Full Word Study →; they plead for reliefיְשַׁוְּע֖וּyə·šaw·wə·‘ū — to cry out, shout for helpH7768 — Full Word Study → from the armמִזְּר֣וֹעַmiz·zə·rō·w·a‘ — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → of the mightyרַבִּֽים׃rab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study →. 10But noוְֽלֹא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → one asksאָמַ֗ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, ‘Where is Godאֱל֣וֹהַּ’ĕ·lō·w·ah — God; divine being; deityH433 — Full Word Study → my Makerעֹשָׂ֑י‘ō·śāy — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study →, who gives usנֹתֵ֖ןnō·ṯên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → songsזְמִר֣וֹתzə·mi·rō·wṯ — song of praise or melodyH2158 — Full Word Study → in the nightבַּלָּֽיְלָה׃bal·lā·yə·lāh — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →, 11who teaches usמַ֭לְּפֵנוּmal·lə·p̄ê·nū — to teach, instruct, or trainH502 — Full Word Study → more than the beastsמִבַּהֲמ֣וֹתmib·ba·hă·mō·wṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → of the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → and makes us wiserיְחַכְּמֵֽנוּ׃yə·ḥak·kə·mê·nū — to be wise; to act with wisdomH2449 — Full Word Study → than the birdsוּמֵע֖וֹףū·mê·‘ō·wp̄ — birdH5775 — Full Word Study → of the airהַשָּׁמַ֣יִםhaš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →?’ 12Thereשָׁ֣םšām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study → they cry outיִ֭צְעֲקוּyiṣ·‘ă·qū — to cry out, call for help, shriekH6817 — Full Word Study →, but He does notוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → answerיַעֲנֶ֑הya·‘ă·neh — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →, because ofמִ֝פְּנֵ֗יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the prideגְּא֣וֹןgə·’ō·wn — Pride, arrogance, majesty, or splendorH1347 — Full Word Study → of evil menרָעִֽים׃rā·‘îm — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. 13Surelyאַךְ־’a·ḵō·šā- — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → Godאֵ֑ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → does notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → listenיִשְׁמַ֥ע׀yiš·ma‘ — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → to empty pleasשָׁ֭וְאšā·wəʾ — falsehood, deception, emptinessH7723 — Full Word Study →, and the Almightyוְ֝שַׁדַּ֗יwə·šad·day — The AlmightyH7706 — Full Word Study → does notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → take note of itיְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃yə·šū·ren·nāh — To see, observe, or watchH7789 — Full Word Study →. 14How much lessאַ֣ף’ap̄ — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study →, then, whenכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → you sayתֹ֭אמַרṯō·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → that you do notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → see Himתְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּṯə·šū·ren·nū — To see, observe, or watchH7789 — Full Word Study →, that your caseדִּ֥יןdîn — Judgment, legal case, dispute, or controversyH1779 — Full Word Study → is before Himלְ֝פָנָ֗יוlə·p̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → and you must waitוּתְח֥וֹלֵֽלū·ṯə·ḥō·w·lêl — To twist, whirl, dance, writhe; to be in pain or travailH2342 — Full Word Study → for Him, 15and furtherוְעַתָּ֗הwə·‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study →, thatכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → in His anger He has not punishedפָּקַ֣דpā·qaḏ — to visit, oversee, appoint, care forH6485 — Full Word Study → or taken much noticeיָדַ֖עyā·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → of follyבַּפַּ֣שׁbap·paš — extremity, edge, border, or endH6580 — Full Word Study →! 16So Jobוְ֭אִיּוֹבwə·’î·yō·wḇ — He weeps or sorrowsH347 — Full Word Study → opensיִפְצֶה־yip̄·ṣeh- — to open wide; to deliver or set freeH6475 — Full Word Study → his mouthפִּ֑יהוּpî·hū — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → in vainהֶ֣בֶלhe·ḇel — Vanity, emptiness, futilityH1892 — Full Word Study → and multipliesיַכְבִּֽר׃פyaḵ·bir — to multiply, increase, or become abundantH3527 — Full Word Study → wordsמִלִּ֥יןmil·lîn — speech, word, matter, thing saidH4405 — Full Word Study → withoutבִּבְלִי־biḇ·lî- — without, lack of, absenceH1097 — Full Word Study → knowledgeדַ֝֗עַתḏa·‘aṯ — Knowledge, understanding, awarenessH1847 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Job 35
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

In this chapter, Elihu continues his rebuke of Job, seeking to correct what he perceives as Job's fundamental misunderstanding of God's nature and justice. Elihu argues that Job has wrongly suggested that righteousness profits God and that sin harms Him—a deeply flawed theology. Instead, Elihu insists that our moral choices affect ourselves and other people, not the Almighty, who stands infinitely above us. The chapter emphasizes God's transcendence and the futility of thinking our actions can somehow diminish or enhance His being. Elihu also addresses why the oppressed cry out to God yet receive no apparent answer: it is because pride and wickedness prevent them from genuinely seeking their Maker.

Verses 1-5: The Opening Challenge

Elihu directly confronts Job's words, accusing him of claiming that his righteousness is more than God's (verse 2). This is a sharp critique, though Job had not literally made this claim. Rather, Job had questioned whether his righteousness gained him any advantage with God (verse 3). Elihu's response is to orient Job's thinking toward the vast distance between creature and Creator. By urging Job to look unto the heavens and observe the clouds above him (verse 5), Elihu reminds Job of his own smallness and God's incomparable greatness. The point is rhetorical and visual: you are small; God is immeasurably great. This sets the foundation for Elihu's entire argument about the nature of moral accountability.

Verses 6-8: Sin and Righteousness Do Not Touch God

Here Elihu makes his central theological claim: our sin does not harm God, and our righteousness does not benefit Him (verses 6-7). When you sin, what doest thou against him? When you are righteous, what giveth thou him? These rhetorical questions drive home the truth that God is self-sufficient and untouchable. Our moral choices affect a man as thou art and the son of man—they harm or help other people (verse 8). This is profoundly important theology: God is not diminished by our sin or enhanced by our righteousness. We are accountable to Him, but He does not need us. Our ethical responsibility lies primarily in how we treat one another, not in some imagined ability to injure or serve the Almighty Himself.

Verses 9-12: Why the Oppressed Go Unanswered

Elihu observes that oppressed people cry out under injustice (verses 9-10), yet they do not cry to God as my maker, who giveth songs in the night (verse 10). Instead, they cry out in mere complaint and desperation. Verse 12 explains the silence: there they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. The oppressed fail to receive divine intervention not because God is indifferent, but because their cry is empty of genuine faith and because proud wickedness suppresses the truth. God does teach and elevate us above beasts (verse 11), but this wisdom comes to those who truly seek Him.

Verses 13-16: God's Judgment Is Sure

Elihu concludes that God will not hear vanity (verse 13), yet judgment is before him (verse 14). Though Job claims he cannot see God, divine judgment is always present and certain. Elihu closes by accusing Job of speaking in vain and multiplying words without knowledge (verse 16)—a direct critique of Job's lengthy speeches. The implication is that Job has spoken far beyond his understanding.

Application for Today

This chapter calls us to remember God's transcendence and to understand that our obedience honors those around us and ourselves, though it adds nothing to God. Our sin grieves Him and violates His character, but it does not diminish His power or glory. When we suffer, we must cry out to God as our Maker in genuine faith, not in hollow complaint. And we must be careful not to multiply words beyond our knowledge, but rather to trust in the One whose judgment and wisdom are perfect and eternal.

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