Job 36:23

23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?

Job 36:23 in Other Translations

KJV
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
ESV
23 Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?
NLT
23 No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
MSG
23 Has anyone ever had to tell him what to do, or correct him, saying, 'You did that all wrong!'?
CSB
23 Who has appointed His way for Him, and who has declared, "You have done wrong"?

Job 36:23 Meaning and Commentary

Job 36:23

Who hath enjoined him his way?
&c.] He teaches men his own ways, the methods of his grace and mercy towards them; and he prescribes to them the ways in which they should walk; but none can lead or prescribe to him; as the way of governing the world, in what manner he should act in it; who has "taught him in the path of judgment?" or "showed to him the way of understanding?" ( Isaiah 40:14 ) ; and particularly whom he should afflict, in what manner he should do it, when and how long he should continue it; all which he does according to his sovereign will, and is not to be controlled: and, in a spiritual sense, no man can or ought to enjoin and prescribe to him whom he should save, and in what way; he saves whom he pleases, and in his own way, even by his Son Jesus Christ, and no other; or "who hath visited", or "should visit on him", or "with him his way" F5? who can take upon him to examine into his ways, and scrutinize them, and call him to an account for what he does? no man can overlook his ways and works, or censure him for any of his actions:

or, who can say, thou hast wrought iniquity?
this may be said of every man, but it cannot be said of God by any without sin; for, as there is no iniquity in his nature, there can be none in his works; not any in his works of providence, no, not in the afflictions of his people; just and true are all his ways.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (wkrd wyle dqp ym) "quis visitavit super illum viam ejus", Montanus, Michaelis; "cum eo", Tigurine version.

Job 36:23 In-Context

21 Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
22 “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
25 All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Job 27:11
  • 2. S Job 34:13; Romans 11:33
  • 3. S Genesis 18:25; S Job 34:10; Job 8:3
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.