Job 11:1-10

Zophar Speaks

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a talker[a] be acquitted?[b]
3 Should your babbling put others to silence, so that you can keep on ridiculing with no one to humiliate you?
4 You have said, "My teaching is sound, and I am pure in Your sight."[c]
5 But if only God would speak and declare His case[d] against you,
6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.[e]
7 Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?[f]
8 [They are] higher than the heavens-what can you do? [They are] deeper than Sheol-what can you know?[g]
9 Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 If He passes by and throws [someone] in prison or convenes a court, who can stop Him?[h]

Job 11:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 11

In this chapter Zophar the Naamathite, Job's third friend, attacks him, and the with great acrimony and severity, and with much indecency; he charges him not only with loquacity, and vain babbling, but with lying, and with scoffing at God, and good men, Job 11:1-3; which he attempts to support by some things Job had said, misrepresented by him, Job 11:4; and wishes that God would take him in hand, and convince him of the wisdom of the divine proceedings with him, and of his lenity and mercy to him, Job 11:5,6; and then discourses of the unsearchableness of God in his counsels, and conduct; of his sovereignty, and of his power, and of the vanity and folly of men, Job 11:7-19; and as his friends before him, having insinuated that Job was guilty of some heinous sin, or sins, and especially of hypocrisy, advises him to repentance and reformation, and then it would be well with him; and he should enjoy much comfort, peace, and safety, even to old age, Job 11:13-19; and concludes it should go ill with the wicked man and the hypocrite, such as he suggests Job was, Job 11:20.

Footnotes 8

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