Job 42:4

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’

Job 42:4 in Other Translations

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

4 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’

4 You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'

4 [You said,] "Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform Me."

Job 42:4 Meaning and Commentary

Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak
Not in the manner he had before, complaining of God and justifying himself, but in a way of humble entreaty of favours of him, of confession of sin before him, and of acknowledgment of his wisdom, goodness, and justice in all his dealings with him, which before he arraigned;

I will demand of thee;
or rather "I will make petition to thee", as Mr. Broughton renders it; humbly ask a favour, and entreat a gracious answer; for to demand is not so agreeable to the frame and temper of soul Job was now in;

and declare thou unto me;
or make him know what he knew not; he now in ignorance applies to God, as a God of knowledge, to inform him in things he was in the dark about, and to increase what knowledge he had. He was now willing to take the advice of Elihu, and pursue it, ( Job 34:31 Job 34:32 ) .

Job 42:4 In-Context

2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’

5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Cross References

• 1. S Job 38:3; Job 40:7