“Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?
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?
- BSB “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
- 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?
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 1:19So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
- Prov 10:19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
- Job 18:2“How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
- Job 8:2“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
- Acts 17:18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
- Job 16:3Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
- Ps 140:11An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.