Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
- BSB Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in 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 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- 1 Cor 1:26For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
- Isa 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
- Ps 130:4But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.
- Rom 2:4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
- Matt 11:25–26At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
- Job 5:13He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
- Jer 32:39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good, and of their children after them:
- Jer 33:9This city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it.’”
- Eccl 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
- 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”
- Luke 12:4–5“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
- Hos 3:5Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and to his blessings in the last days.
- Rom 11:20–22True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
- Luke 10:21In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”
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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
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