English Standard Version
Job 11:8
8It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Job 11:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
- New International Version (NIV)They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
- New King James Version (NKJV)They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can you know?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Such knowledge is higher than the heavens— and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld— what do you know?
Context of Job 11:8
6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. 7"Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? 9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. 10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?
Read all of Job 11Job 11:8 word by word
גָּבְהֵ֣י שָׁ֭מַיִם מַה־תִּפְעָ֑ל עֲמֻקָּ֥ה מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל מַה־תֵּדָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 11:8
- Job 22:12"Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
- Job 35:5Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
- 2 Chronicles 6:18"But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
- Psalms 103:11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
- Psalms 148:13Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.
- Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
- Isaiah 55:9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- Job 26:6Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
- Psalms 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
- Amos 9:2"If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.
- Ephesians 3:18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
Commentaries on Job 11:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8It is as high as heaven - High as the heavens, what canst thou work? Deep below sheol, (the invisible world), what canst thou know? Long beyond the earth, and broad beyond the sea, is its measure. These are instances in the immensity of created things, and all out of the reach of human power and knowledge; and if these things are so, how incomprehensible must he be, who designed, created, preserves, and governs the whole! We find the same thought in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8It is as high as heaven - That is, the knowledge of God; or the subject is as high as heaven. The idea is, that man is incompetent to examine, with accuracy, an object that is as far off as the heavens; and that as the knowledge of God must be of that character, it is vain for him to attempt to investigate it fully. There is an energy in the Hebrew which is lost in our common translation. The Hebrew is abrupt and very emphatic: “The heights of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 Zophar speaks well concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly. See here what man is; and let him be humbled. God sees this concerning vain man, that he would be wise, would be thought so, though he is born like a wild ass's colt, so unteachable and untameable. Man is a vain creature; empty, so the word is. Yet he is a proud creature, and self-conceited. He would be wise, would be thought so, though he…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. It--the "wisdom" of God (Job 11:6). The abruptness of the Hebrew is forcible: "The heights of heaven! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to them with thy gaze, Psa 139:8)? know--namely, of His perfections.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 11:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 11
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries