Job 26:2

Job 26:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
• New International Version (NIV)“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!
• New King James Version (NKJV)“How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength?

Context of Job 26:2

1But Job answered and said, “What a help you are to the weak (powerless)! How you have saved the arm that is without strength! 3How you have counseled the one who has no wisdom! And how abundantly you have provided sound wisdom and helpful insight! 4To whom have you uttered [these] words? And whose spirit [inspired what] came forth from you?

Job 26:2 word by word

מֶה־עָזַ֥רְתָּ לְלֹא־כֹ֑חַ ה֝וֹשַׁ֗עְתָּ זְר֣וֹעַ לֹא־עֹֽז׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• How hast thou helpedעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
• without powerכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• savestיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
• thou the armזְרוֹעַzerôa‛ zerôa‛ zerô‛âh zerô‛âh · armH2220
• noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797

Cross-references for Job 26:2

• Job 12:2“No doubt you are the [only wise] people [in the world], And wisdom will die with you!
• 1 Kings 18:27At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!”
• Job 4:3Behold, you have admonished and instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
• Job 6:25How painful are words of honesty. But what does your argument prove?
• Job 16:4I also could speak like you, If you were in my place; I could compose and join words together against you And shake my head at you.
• Isaiah 35:3Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm.
• Isaiah 40:14With whom did He consult and who enlightened Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding?
• Isaiah 41:5The islands and coastlands have seen and they fear; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come.

Commentaries on Job 26:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2How hast thou helped him - This seems a species of irony. How wonderfully hast thou counselled the unskilful and strengthened the weak! Alas for you! ye could not give what ye did not possess! In this way the Chaldee understood these verses: "Why hast thou pretended to give succor, when thou art without strength? And save, while thy arm is weak? Why hast thou given counsel, when thou art without understanding? And supposest that thou hast shown the very…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2How hast thou helped him that is without power? - It has been doubted whether this refers to Job himself, the two friends of Bildad, or to the Deity. Rosenmuller. The connection, however, seems to demand that it should be referred to Job himself. It is sarcastical. Bildad had come as a friend and comforter. He had, also, in common with Eliphaz and Zophar, taken upon himself the office of teacher and counsellor. He had regarded Job as manifesting great…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Job’s friends did not help him (12:2; 16:4). Bildad's claim that innocence was impossible upset Job deeply (10:1–7; 13:3, 13–19; 16:18–21; 19:23–27; 23:2–7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-14THIRD SERIES. 2-3. without power ... no strength ... no wisdom--The negatives are used instead of the positives, powerlessness, &c., designedly (so Is 31:8; De 32:21). Granting I am, as you say (Job 18:17; 15:2), powerlessness itself, &c. "How hast thou helped such a one?" savest--supportest.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Covering
• Portion
• Proud
• Job, Book of

Commentaries on Job 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings