Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
Parallel translations
- WEB then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
- BSB then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
- NKJV Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.
- NASB Then He declares to them their work And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
- NLT he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride.
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
In affliction God shows people their deeds and where they have acted proudly. Suffering can reveal hidden sin and pride.
Overview
Elihu explains that one purpose of affliction is to make people see their own conduct and transgressions, especially pride. God uses trials as a mirror to expose what we would otherwise ignore. This redemptive purpose of suffering reflects God's fatherly care to bring His children to repentance, a grace that draws us to the humility found at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Cor 11:32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
- Job 15:25For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
- Ps 119:71It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
- Job 10:2I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
- Lam 3:39–40Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
- Ezek 18:28–31Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
- Luke 15:17–19And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
- 1 Tim 1:15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- Ps 119:67Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
- Ps 94:12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
- Ps 5:10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
- Deut 4:21–22Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:
- Rom 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
- 2 Chr 33:11–13Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
- Isa 59:12For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
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 36:9 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.