Job 11:3-6

3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

Job 11:3-6 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 7

  • 1. Ephesians 4:29; Ephesians 5:4
  • 2. Job 12:4; Job 16:10; Job 17:2; Job 21:3; Job 30:1; Psalms 1:1
  • 3. Job 9:21; Job 6:10
  • 4. S Job 10:7
  • 5. Exodus 20:19; Job 23:5; Job 32:13; Job 38:1
  • 6. S Job 9:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10
  • 7. S Ezra 9:13; S Job 15:5
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