“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
- KJV Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
- NKJV “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?
- NASB “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?
- NLT “Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Zophar asks whether Job's flood of words should go unanswered or a talkative man be deemed right. He accuses Job of mere empty speech.
Overview
Zophar opens by dismissing Job's lengthy laments as babble that must be rebutted. His sarcasm reveals impatience rather than understanding of Job's grief. The episode warns against measuring a sufferer's case by the volume of complaint, and reminds us that God Himself, not glib accusers, will vindicate the upright (Job 42:7-8; Proverbs 18:13).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Jas 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Prov 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Job 18:2“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
- Job 8:2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
- Acts 17:18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
- Job 16:3Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
- Ps 140:11May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 11:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.