Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
- BSB Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
- NKJV “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
- NASB ¶“Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have done wrong.
- NLT Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.
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
Job invites them to teach him and show where he has erred, and he will be silent. He is open to correction if they can prove actual sin.
Overview
Job challenges his friends to instruct him and point out his specific fault, promising to fall silent if they can. This shows he is not closed to truth but resists vague accusation. His willingness to be taught models a humble, teachable spirit, the very posture the gospel commends, for the one who walks in the light welcomes correction and seeks the truth that is fully embodied in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
- Jas 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
- Ps 39:1–2I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
- Job 10:2I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
- Ps 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
- Job 33:1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
- Job 5:27Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
- Job 34:32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
- Ps 32:8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
- Prov 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
- Job 32:15–16They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
- Job 32:11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
- Job 33:31–33Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
- Jas 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
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 6:24 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.