Job 34:16

Job 34:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
• New International Version (NIV)“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:

Context of Job 34:16

14God could decide to remove life from the world. He could take back his spirit and his breath. 15If he did that, everyone that is alive would die. As humans, we would become dirt again. If you really understand things, Job, listen to me. Hear what I have to say. 17If God refused to do what is right, he could not rule the world. He is the powerful Judge who knows what is right. But you say that he is guilty! 18It is God who may say to a king, “You are useless!” He may say to rulers, “You are wicked!”

Job 34:16 word by word

וְאִם־בִּ֥ינָה שִׁמְעָה־זֹּ֑את הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה לְק֣וֹל מִלָּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH998
• hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• this: hearkenאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• to the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voice: messageH6963
• of my wordsמִלָּהmillâh milleh · speechH4405

Cross-references for Job 34:16

• Job 12:3But I understand things as well as you. You are no better than I am. Everyone knows the things that you have been saying.
• Job 13:2I know as much as you do. You are no better than I am.

Commentaries on Job 34:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16If now thou hast understanding hear this - This appears to be addressed to Job. The discourse before this had been directed to his three friends, but Elihu appears here to have turned to Job, and to have made a solemn appeal to him, whether this were not so. In the subsequent verses he remonstrates with him about his views, and shows him that what he had said implied severe reflections on the character and government of God.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-30Verses 16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God. Elihu asks…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. In Job 34:2, Elihu had spoken to all in general, now he calls Job's special attention.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 34:16

• Blasphemy
• God

In the dictionaries

• Chastisement
• Choose
• Dust
• Elihu
• Fit
• understand, understanding, thinking

Commentaries on Job 34

• 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