“For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
Parallel translations
- WEB For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
- KJV For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
- BSB For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.
- NKJV For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
- NLT I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.
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 insists his words are not false and that one perfect in knowledge is present. His confidence borders on overstatement.
Overview
Elihu asserts the truthfulness of his words, claiming to speak with sound and complete knowledge. While he speaks much truth about God, his self-assurance reveals the limits of human wisdom, for only God is perfect in knowledge (Job 37:16 uses similar language of God). The verse cautions against overconfidence and points us to the One who is true wisdom incarnate, Jesus Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 8:7–8For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
- Job 37:16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
- 1 Cor 14:20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
- Ps 49:3My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
- 2 Tim 3:16–17Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
- Job 21:34So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
- Job 33:3My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
- Prov 22:20–21Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
- Acts 24:22But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”
- Job 22:6–30For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
- Luke 1:3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
- Job 13:4But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
- Job 21:27“Behold, I know your thoughts, the devices with which you would wrong me.
- Job 13:7Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 36:4 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.