Job 37:23

Job 37:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
• New International Version (NIV)The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.

Context of Job 37:23

21“Now people cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies [without being blinded], When the wind has passed and cleared them. 22Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it]; Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes]. The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness. 24Men therefore fear Him; He does not regard nor respect any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].”

Job 37:23 word by word

שַׁדַּ֣י לֹֽא־מְ֭צָאנֻהוּ שַׂגִּיא־כֹ֑חַ וּמִשְׁפָּ֥ט וְרֹב־צְ֝דָקָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
• we cannot find him outמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• excellentשַׂגִּיאώaggîy' · greatH7689
• in powerכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• and in judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• and in plentyרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• of justiceצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
• he will not afflictעָנָה‛ânâh · to afflictH6031

Cross-references for Job 37:23

• Job 37:19Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being; We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].
• Job 11:7“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
• Job 26:14Yet these are just the fringes of His ways [mere samples of His power], The faintest whisper of His voice! Who can contemplate the thunder of His [full] mighty power?”
• Job 36:26Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.
• Proverbs 30:3I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom, Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].
• Ecclesiastes 3:11He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.
• Luke 10:22All things have been transferred and turned over to Me by My Father and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.”
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!
• 1 Timothy 6:16He alone possesses immortality [absolute exemption from death] and lives in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal power and dominion! Amen.
• Job 9:4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?
• Job 12:13“But [only] with Him are [perfect] wisdom and might; He [alone] has [true] counsel and understanding.
• Job 36:5Behold, God is mighty, and yet does not despise anyone [nor regard any as trivial]; He is mighty in the strength and power of understanding.
• Psalms 62:11God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
• Psalms 65:6Who creates the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power,
• Psalms 66:3Say to God, “How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to be obedient to You.
• Psalms 93:1The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty and splendor; The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength; the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.

Commentaries on Job 37:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out - This is a very abrupt exclamation, and highly descriptive of the state of mind in which Elihu was at this time; full of solemnity, wonder, and astonishment, at his own contemplation of this "great First Cause, least understood." The Almighty! we cannot find him out. Excellent in power and in judgment - We must not pretend to comprehend his being, the mode of his existence, the wisdom of his counsels, nor the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out - See the notes at Job 11:7-9. This sentiment accords with all that Elihu had said, and indeed is what he designed particularly to enforce. But it has a special emphasis here, where God is seen approaching in visible splendor, encompassed with clouds and tempests, and seated on a throne of burnished gold. Such a God, Elihu says, it was impossible to comprehend. His majesty was overwhelming, The passage is much…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-24Verses 21-24 Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings concerning the glory of God. Light always is, but is not always to be seen. When clouds come between, the sun is darkened in the clear day. The light of God's favour shines ever towards his faithful servants, though it be not always seen. Sins are clouds, and often hinder us from seeing that bright light which is in the face of God. Also, as to those thick clouds of sorrow which often…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The Almighty is beyond our reach: Compare 11:7; 26:14; Romans 11:33; 1 Timothy 6:16. His justice and great righteousness: Compare Job 9:4, 19; 12:13; Psalms 62:11; 66:3; 93:1; 99:4.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. afflict--oppressively, so as to "pervert judgment" as Job implied (see on Job 8:3); but see on Job 37:21, end of note. The reading, "He answereth not," that is, gives no account of His dealings, is like a transcriber's correction, from Job 33:13, Margin.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 37:23

• God
• God Continued...
• Ignorance
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• Comprehend
• Den
• Direct
• Elihu
• God

Commentaries on Job 37

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings