Job 36:25

25 Everyone has seen what he has done; but we can only watch from a distance.

Job 36:25 Meaning and Commentary

Job 36:25

Every man may see it
Not only was to be seen by the wise and learned, the just and good, but by the common people; whether it is to be understood of the works of creation, or of the afflictive providences of God in general, or of Job's afflictions in particular;

man may behold [it] afar off;
as to time, from the creation of the world to the present time, as Jarchi; or as to place, from the heaven, so distant, where are the sun, moon, and stars; and which, though so far off, are easily beheld; or as to the manner of seeing them, not darkly, imperfectly, and in a confused manner, as things at a distance are seen, so some understand it; but rather clearly and plainly, as things easy to be seen are clearly discerned at a distance; and it signifies that the work of God here meant is so visible, that he must be quite blind and stupid that cannot see it; it may be seen, as it were, with half an eye, and a great way off; he that runs may see and read.

Job 36:25 In-Context

23 No one can tell God what to do or accuse him of doing evil.
24 He has always been praised for what he does; you also must praise him.
25 Everyone has seen what he has done; but we can only watch from a distance.
26 We cannot fully know his greatness or count the number of his years.
27 It is God who takes water from the earth and turns it into drops of rain.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. but we can only watch from a distance; [or] no one understands it all.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.