Job 34:10

10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

Job 34:10 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 “Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.
The Message Bible (MSG)
10 "You're veterans in dealing with these matters; certainly we're of one mind on this. It's impossible for God to do anything evil; no way can the Mighty One do wrong.
American Standard Version (ASV)
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
10 "You people who have understanding, listen to me. It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God [to do] wrong, and [for] the Almighty [to act] unjustly.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
10 "So listen to me, you men who have understanding. God would never do what is evil. The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.

Job 34:10 Meaning and Commentary

Job 34:10

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding
The same persons he addresses as wise men and men of knowledge, ( Job 34:2 ) ; and here as men of understanding, or "heart" F26; the heart being the seat of wisdom and knowledge; and such Elihu desired to be his hearers, to attend to what he was about to say; which was to refute the words of Job, or his sense expressed in the preceding verses;

far be it from God [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the
Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity;
do any injustice or injury to any person, there being no unrighteousness in him, nor in any of his ways and works; which Job tacitly seemed to charge God with, at least as Elihu understood him. But sin is contrary to his pure and holy nature; he cannot look upon it with pleasure, much less commit it; it is forbidden by his holy righteous law, and therefore would never he done by him the lawgiver; nor can anyone single instance be given of wickedness and unrighteousness committed by him in any of his works of nature, or providence, or grace. He is the author of the evil of afflictions, whether as punishments or fatherly corrections; and in neither case does he commit or do any injustice; not in punishing wicked men less than they deserve, as he does in this life; nor in correcting his own people, which is always for their good: but not of the evil of sin; this may be concluded from the titles here given, of "Almighty and All-sufficient"; for being so he can be under no temptation of doing an unjust thing; and which is expressed with the like abhorrence and indignation by Elihu as the same sentiment is by the Apostle Paul, ( Romans 9:14 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (bbl yvna) "viri cordis", Pagninus, Montanus, Michaelis.

Job 34:10 In-Context

8 He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Job 32:10
  • 2. ver 16; S Job 12:12
  • 3. S Genesis 18:25
  • 4. ver 12; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Job 36:23; Psalms 92:15; Romans 3:5; Romans 9:14
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