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Then He declares to them their work And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
Job 36:9 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
  • KJV Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
  • 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.
  • 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 punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
  • Job 15:25Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;
  • Ps 119:71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
  • Job 10:2I will tell God, ‘Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.
  • Lam 3:39–40Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
  • Ezek 18:28–31Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
  • Luke 15:17–19But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
  • 1 Tim 1:15The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, 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 I observe your word.
  • Ps 94:12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah, and teach out of your law;
  • Ps 5:10Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.
  • Deut 4:21–22Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance;
  • Rom 5:20The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
  • 2 Chr 33:11–13Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
  • Isa 59:12For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Job videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Job 36:9YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JobMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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.