Job 11:2-12

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man of much talk be justified?
3 Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?
4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?
8 [It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?
11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;
12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

Job 11:2-12 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 4

  • [a]. Or 'gain his cause.'
  • [b]. Or 'known.'
  • [c]. Lit. 'empty.'
  • [d]. Others read 'Man is stupid, he is senseless, man is born like.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.