But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Parallel translations
- WEB But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
- BSB But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
- NKJV But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
- NASB “But it is a spirit that is in mankind, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
- NLT But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.
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
Elihu declares that it is the spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that gives understanding. True wisdom comes from God, not merely from age.
Overview
Elihu states a key truth: genuine understanding is a gift of God's Spirit, the breath of the Almighty that enlightens the human heart. This explains why he, though young, may speak with insight. The teaching that wisdom comes from God anticipates the New Testament truth that the Spirit grants understanding, and it points to Christ, in whom the fullness of God's wisdom dwells and from whom the Spirit is given to his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Job 33:4The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
- Job 38:36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
- 2 Tim 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Prov 2:6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
- Eccl 2:26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- 1 Cor 2:10–12But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
- 1 Kgs 3:12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
- Dan 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
- Job 35:11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
- Job 33:16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
- Dan 1:17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
- 1 Kgs 3:28And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
- 1 Kgs 4:29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
- Gen 41:39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
- Job 4:12–21Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
- 1 Cor 12:8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 32:8 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.