English Standard Version
Job 22:2
2"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
Job 22:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
- New International Version (NIV)“Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
Context of Job 22:2
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. 3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless? 4Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?
Read all of Job 22Job 22:2 word by word
הַלְאֵ֥ל יִסְכָּן־גָּ֑בֶר כִּֽי־יִסְכֹּ֖ן עָלֵ֣ימוֹ מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 22:2
- Job 35:6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
- Psalms 16:2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
- Job 21:15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
- Deuteronomy 10:13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
- Proverbs 4:7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
- Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
- Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
- Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Commentaries on Job 22:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Can a man be profitable unto God - God does not afflict thee because thou hast deprived him of any excellency. A man may be profitable to a man, but no man can profit his Maker. He has no interest in thy conduct; he does not punish thee because thou hast offended and deprived him of some good. Thy iniquities are against justice, and justice requires thy punishment.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Can a man be profitable unto God? - Can a man confer any favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation? Eliphaz supposes that Job sets up a “claim” to the favor of God, because he was of service to him, or because God had something to fear if he was cut off. He maintains, therefore, that a man can confer no favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation. God is independent and supreme. He has nothing to gain if man is righteous - he has nothing to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3Eliphaz did not understand that God would delight in Job’s right relationship with him, just as God does with every righteous person (1:8; 2:3; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 147:10–11; Proverbs 11:1, 20; 12:22). God would also benefit from Job’s steady faith, which exposed the lie in Satan’s challenge (Job 1:9–12; 2:4–6). Job firmly claimed that he was blameless (23:10–12). God said the same thing (1:1, 8; 2:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. as he that is wise--rather, yea the pious man profiteth himself. So "understanding" or "wise"--pious (Da 12:3, 10; Psa 14:2) [Michaelis].Read the comment
Topics related to Job 22:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 22
- 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