And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
Parallel translations
- WEB that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
- BSB and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
- NKJV That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.
- NASB And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets part of your guilt.
- NLT If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
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 claims God would reveal wisdom's hidden depths and show that He punishes Job less than his sin deserves. He insists Job is getting off lightly.
Overview
Zophar asserts that God's wisdom is many-sided and that, if revealed, it would show Job's suffering is mild compared to his guilt. While it is true that God exacts less than sins deserve, Zophar wrongly applies this to a man God Himself called blameless (Job 1:8). The truth he half-grasps shines fully in the gospel, where God spares us what our sins deserve through the cross (Ezra 9:13; Romans 6:23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ezra 9:13And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
- Lam 3:22It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
- Matt 13:35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
- Eph 3:5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
- Dan 2:28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
- Job 15:8Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
- Rom 16:25–26Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- Ps 25:14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
- Job 9:4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
- Deut 29:29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
- Dan 2:47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
- Job 15:5For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
- Job 15:11Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?
- Ps 106:43–46Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
- 1 Cor 2:9–11But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
- Ps 103:10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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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 11:6 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
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