Job 33:12

12 Zie, hierin zijt gij niet rechtvaardig, antwoord ik u; want God is meerder dan een mens.

Job 33:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:12

Behold, [in] this thou art not just
Here begins Elihu's answer, who does not deny that Job was a just man, both before God in an evangelic sense, and before men in a moral sense; he did not go about to detract from Job's general character, as a man that lived soberly, righteously, and godly in the world; but in this he was not just, nor is it to be justified, with respect to this thing, he could not acquit him of doing what was wrong; namely, insisting so much on his own innocence, and tacking therewith such unbecoming and undue reflections on the dealings of God with him; he did not give to God his due, he did not do him justice in representing him in this light; he did not say nor do the right thing, so Mr. Broughton translates the words,

``lo, here thou art not in the right;''

see ( Job 32:2 ) ;

I will answer thee;
or "I must tell thee"; as the same writer renders the words, being able to make it clear and plain:

that God is greater than man:
than any man, than the greatest of men, most famous for power, wisdom, or justice; he is not only greater in his power, faithfulness, goodness, grace, and mercy, but in his holiness and righteousness, wisdom and knowledge; and therefore can never do either an unjust thing, or an unwise one; and for man, who is both sinful and ignorant, even the best in comparison of him, to arraign him at his bar, is very arrogant and presumptuous; since he knows best what to do, and what are his reasons for so doing, and is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Job 33:12 In-Context

10 Zie, Hij vindt oorzaken tegen mij, Hij houdt mij voor Zijn vijand.
11 Hij legt mijn voeten in den stok; Hij neemt al mijn paden waar.
12 Zie, hierin zijt gij niet rechtvaardig, antwoord ik u; want God is meerder dan een mens.
13 Waarom hebt gij tegen Hem getwist? Want Hij antwoordt niet van al Zijn daden.
14 Maar God spreekt eens of tweemaal; doch men let niet daarop.
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.