Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
- KJV Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
- NKJV Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
- NASB “Behold, you have taught many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
- NLT “In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.
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
Eliphaz reminds Job that he has instructed and strengthened many. He appeals to Job's past ministry to others.
Overview
Eliphaz recalls how Job once taught and steadied those who were weak, acknowledging his former godliness and helpfulness. This sets up a contrast with Job's present collapse. The compliment, however, becomes the basis for a subtle rebuke that Job should now practice what he preached.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Prov 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- Job 16:5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
- Heb 12:12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Eph 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Luke 22:43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
- Deut 3:28But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Ezek 13:22Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,
- Isa 50:4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- Gen 18:19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Prov 16:21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
- Ezra 6:22For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.
- Col 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
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 4:3 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.