Job 42:3

Job 42:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
• New International Version (NIV)You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
• English Standard Version (ESV)'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Context of Job 42:3

1Then Job replied to the Lord. He said this: 2‘I know that you can do all things. You can do anything that you want to do. Nobody can stop you. You asked me, “Why do you ask questions about my wisdom, when you do not understand anything?” It is true. I was speaking about things that I do not understand. They are things that are too wonderful for me to know. 4You said to me, “Listen carefully to what I will say. I will ask you questions and you must answer them.” 5In the past, I had heard about you from other people. Now I have seen you for myself.

Job 42:3 word by word

מִ֤י זֶ֨ה׀ מַעְלִ֥ים עֵצָ֗ה בְּֽלִ֫י דָ֥עַת לָכֵ֣ן הִ֭גַּדְתִּי וְלֹ֣א אָבִ֑ין נִפְלָא֥וֹת מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי וְלֹ֣א אֵדָֽע׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• he that hidethעָלַם‛âlam · to concealH5956
• counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
• without knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• therefore have I utteredנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• that I understoodבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• not; things too wonderfulפָּלָאpâlâ' · to wonderH6381
• for me, which I knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045

Cross-references for Job 42:3

• Job 38:2‘Who do you think you are? Why do you ask questions about my wisdom? You speak many words, but you do not understand anything.
• Psalms 40:5Lord, my God, you have done many great things. You have done so many things for us that we cannot count them! There is nobody else like you! I want to talk about the things that you have done, but there are too many things to speak about!
• Psalms 131:1Lord, I am not proud. I do not think that I am a great person. I do not try to do great things. I do not worry about things that are too hard for me to understand.
• Psalms 139:6You know so much about me, it is wonderful. I cannot understand it. My thoughts cannot reach as high as that!
• Proverbs 30:2I feel more stupid than any other person. I do not understand things as other people do.

Commentaries on Job 42:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Who is he that hideth counsel - These are the words of Job, and they are a repetition of what Jehovah said, Job 38:2; : "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" Job now having heard the Almighty's speech, and having received his reproof, echoes back his words: "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge Alas, I am the man; I have uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, that I knew not. God had said, Job…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? - This is repeated from Job 38:2. As used there these are the words of the Almighty, uttered as a reproof of Job for the manner in which he had undertaken to explain the dealings of God; see the notes at that verse. As repeated here by Job, they are an acknowledgment of the truth of what is there implied, that “he” had been guilty of hiding counsel in this manner, and the repetition here is a part of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6Job understood the message of God’s speeches: I know that You can do all things. Nothing is too hard for him (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26). Job says, No plan of Yours can be thwarted (Job 23:13; Isaiah 14:27; 46:10). Job realized how different he was from God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. I am the man! Job in God's own words (Job 38:2) expresses his deep and humble penitence. God's word concerning our guilt should be engraven on our hearts and form the groundwork of our confession. Most men in confessing sin palliate rather than confess. Job in omitting "by words" (Job 38:2), goes even further than God's accusation. Not merely my words, but my whole thoughts and ways were "without knowledge." too wonderful--I rashly denied that Thou…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 42:3

• God
• Job

In the dictionaries

• Ashes
• Hearing
• Wonderful

Commentaries on Job 42

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings