Job 11:1-6

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

1 Then ¹Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Should ²a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?

3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

4 For ³you say, ‘My ⁴doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s^[a] eyes. ’

5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,

6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in ⁵understanding. ^[b] Know then that God ⁶exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

Job 11:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. 11:1 ch. 2:11
• 2. 11:2 Prov. 10:19; Eccles. 5:3
• 3. 11:4 ch. 10:7
• 4. 11:4 Deut. 32:2; Prov. 4:2; Isa. 29:24
• 5. 11:6 ch. 5:12 (Heb.)
• 6. 11:6 [Ezra 9:13]

Footnotes

• [a] 11:4 Hebrew 'your'
• [b] 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain