“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
- KJV Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
- BSB Indeed, God is mighty, but He 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 has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
- Ps 138:6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
- Jer 10:12He has made the earth by his power. he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens.
- Ps 147:5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
- Job 37:23We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
- Jer 32:19great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
- Job 12:13–16“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
- Job 26:12–14He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.
- Job 31:13“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me;
- Job 9:14How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?
- Job 10:3Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
- Job 9:19If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
- Ps 99:4The King’s strength also loves justice. You do establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.
- 1 Cor 1:24–28but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is 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.