Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
- KJV Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
- NKJV Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
- NASB “Therefore people fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”
- NLT No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.”
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
Because God is so great, people rightly revere him, and he pays no special regard to the self-styled wise. True wisdom begins in the fear of the LORD.
Overview
Elihu concludes that the fitting response to God's majesty is reverent fear, and that human cleverness earns no privileged standing before him. This echoes the wisdom theme that fearing God, not self-confident reasoning, is the path of understanding (Job 28:28). It prepares Job and the reader for the humbling encounter about to come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- 1 Cor 1:26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
- Isa 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- Ps 130:4But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
- Rom 2:4Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Matt 11:25–26At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Job 5:13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
- Jer 32:39I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
- Jer 33:9So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.
- Eccl 9:11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
- 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Luke 12:4–5I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
- Hos 3:5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
- Rom 11:20–22That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
- Luke 10:21At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 37:24 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.