If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this
Not as calling his understanding in question, as if he, had none; for Job was a very understanding man; he had not lost his natural understanding by his afflictions, see ( Job 6:13 ) ; nor was he without an understanding of divine things, as his speeches and answers show; but rather it is taken for granted that he was a man of understanding: "if" or "seeing" thou hast understanding, art a man of knowledge and intelligence, therefore hearken and attend to what has been said or about to be said; though, as some Jewish interpreters F1 observe, the word is not a noun, but a verb, and is imperative, "understand thou now, hear this"; and then the sense is, "if" things are so as before related, ( Job 34:13-15 ) ; then now understand this, take it into thy heart and mind, and well weigh and consider it:
hearken to the voice of my words;
either the preceding or following ones.