Job 26:3

3 How you have advised {one who has no wisdom}! And [what] sound wisdom you have made known {in abundance}!

Job 26:3 Meaning and Commentary

Job 26:3

How hast thou counselled [him that hath] no wisdom?
&c.] A man deprived of wisdom has need of counsel, and it should be given him; and he does well both to ask and take it; and be it so, as if Job should say, that I am the foolish and unwise creature you take me to be, what counsel and advice have you given me? what a wise counsellor have you shown yourself to be? or rather, what a miserable part have you acted under this character?

and [how] hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
the thing in controversy, set it forth in a clear light, and in a copious manner, when he had not said one word about it, namely, concerning the afflictions of the godly, and the prosperity of the wicked; thus jeering at him, and laughing at the short reply he had made, and which was nothing to the purpose.

Job 26:3 In-Context

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 "How you have helped {one who has no power}! [How] you have assisted [the] arm {that has no strength}!

3 How you have advised {one who has no wisdom}! And [what] sound wisdom you have made known {in abundance}!

4 {With whose help} have you uttered words, and whose breath has come forth from you?

5 "The spirits of the dead tremble below [the] waters and their inhabitants.

Footnotes

• [a] Singular
• [b] Literally "for not wisdom"
• [c] Singular
• [d] Literally "as far as the multitude," or "for multitude"