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

21Now the wind has blown all the clouds away. The sun shines brightly in the sky. It is too bright for us to look at. 22God comes with his bright glory from the north! His glory is all around him. It makes us afraid. Almighty God is so great that we cannot come near to him. He is very powerful. But he always does what is right and fair. He is not cruel to people. 24So people respect God with fear. He does not listen to those who think that they are wise.’

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 things we should say to God. We cannot argue with him, because our minds are in a dark place.
• Job 11:7You cannot discover everything about God. You cannot know how powerful he is.
• Job 26:14These are only a few of the things that God does. We only know about a few small things. If he used all of his power, we could never understand.’
• Job 36:26Yes, God is very great! We cannot know him completely. Nobody can count the number of his years!
• Proverbs 30:3I have never learned wisdom. I do not know anything about God, the Holy One.
• Ecclesiastes 3:11God has chosen a good time for all things to happen. He has caused people to think about things that will continue for ever. But nobody can completely understand everything that God has done, from the beginning of their lives to the end.
• Luke 10:22Jesus then said, ‘My Father has given me authority over all things. Only the Father knows who I am, his Son. Only I know who the Father is, because I am his Son. I also choose to tell some people about him. Then they also know him.’
• Romans 11:33Yes! God is very great! He has everything! He knows and he understands all things! Nobody can completely understand the things that he decides. Nobody can explain the ways in which he works.
• 1 Timothy 6:16God alone lives for ever. He lives in very bright light that nobody can come near. Nobody has ever seen God. Nobody is able to see him. So we praise him! He will rule for ever with great authority! Amen! This is true.
• Job 9:4God is very wise and he is very powerful. It is impossible to argue against him and win.
• Job 12:13God is wise and he is also powerful. He understands things and he gives good advice.
• Job 36:5God is very powerful but he does not turn anyone away. When he decides to do something, he surely does it.
• Psalms 62:11I have heard God speak his truth once, no twice! God has great strength.
• Psalms 65:6You used your power to make the mountains, and you showed how strong you are.
• Psalms 66:3Say to God, ‘You do great things! Your great power makes your enemies afraid. They come to you and they bend down to the ground.
• Psalms 93:1The Lord rules as King! He wears royal power as his clothes. His strength is like a belt round his body. So the world is safe and strong. Nothing can shake it from its place.

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