Job 22:23

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored, if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,

Job 22:23 Meaning and Commentary

Job 22:23

If thou return to the Almighty
Which supposes a departure from him; and that is by sinning against him, which should be repented of, confessed, and pardoning grace and mercy be implored, by all those that have backslidden, and return to God; to which they are encouraged by his being the "Almighty", who has power to forgive sins, also to cause all grace to abound, and to save to the uttermost; he is not a God that is prayed and returned to, that cannot save, or whose hand is shortened, or his ear heavy; the word is "shaddai", which signifies "[who is] sufficient", all sufficient; whose grace is sufficient to restore and receive backsliders, pardon their sins, accept their persons, supply their wants, and preserve them safe to his kingdom and glory:

thou shalt be built up;
restored to his former happiness, have all his breaches repaired and made up; his body, which was like a building out of repair and dropping down, become hale and healthful; his family, which was in a ruinous condition, being deprived of his children as well as substance, be increasing again through a like number of children; by which means families are built up, ( Ruth 4:16 ) ; and by having a large affluence of good things, abundantly greater than he had before; and also, in a spiritual sense, be edified and built up in his soul, through the light of God's countenance, the discoveries of his love, the comforts of his spirit, an application of precious promises, and divine truths, and a communication of grace, and the blessings of it:

thou shall put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle;
not commit it himself, nor connive at it in others, nor suffer it in his family, suggesting as if he had so done in times past; or remove men of iniquity, wicked men, from his house, and not allow them to dwell there; though rather this seems to be spoken of by way of promise, and as an encouragement to return to the Almighty; upon which all evils and calamities, the effects of sin and iniquity, should be removed from his house, and the apartments of it, they were now full of.

Job 22:23 In-Context

21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way good will come to you.
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored, if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,
24 if you treat gold like dust, and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,
25 and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver,

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Traditional rendering of Heb [Shaddai]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.