Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
- BSB Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
- NKJV “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
- NASB “Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
- NLT “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
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
God is mighty yet despises no one, and is mighty in strength of understanding. His power is matched by wisdom and care.
Overview
Elihu beautifully balances God's might with His mercy: He is powerful but does not despise the lowly. Combined with His perfect understanding, this portrays a God whose strength never overrides His justice or compassion. This anticipates the gospel revelation of a mighty God who draws near to the humble and does not break the bruised reed (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ps 22:24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
- Ps 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
- Jer 10:12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
- Ps 147:5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
- Job 37:23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
- Jer 32:19Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
- Job 12:13–16With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
- Job 26:12–14He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
- Job 31:13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
- Job 9:14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
- Job 10:3Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
- Job 9:19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
- Ps 99:4The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
- 1 Cor 1:24–28But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
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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 36:5 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.