English Standard Version
Job 34:10
10"Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
Job 34:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
- New International Version (NIV)“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.
Context of Job 34:10
8who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? 9For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. 11For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. 12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
Read all of Job 34Job 34:10 word by word
לָכֵ֤ן׀ אַ֥נֲשֵׁ֥י לֵבָ֗ב שִׁמְע֫וּ לִ֥י חָלִ֖לָה לָאֵ֥ל מֵרֶ֗שַׁע וְשַׁדַּ֥י מֵעָֽוֶל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore hearkenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- unto me, ye menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of understandingלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- far be itחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
- from Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
- wickednessרֶ֫שַׁעresha‛ · wickednessH7562
- the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
- iniquityעָ֫וֶל‛evel ‛âvel ‛avlâh ‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · injusticeH5766
Cross-references for Job 34:10
- Job 34:2"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
- Proverbs 6:32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
- Proverbs 15:32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
- Job 8:3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
- Job 36:23Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?
- Job 37:23The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
- Genesis 18:25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
- Deuteronomy 32:4"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
- 2 Chronicles 19:7Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes."
- Psalms 92:15to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
- Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
- Romans 3:4By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
- Romans 9:14What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
- James 1:13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
Commentaries on Job 34:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Far be it from God - Rather, Wickedness, far be that from God; and from iniquity, the Almighty. The sense is sufficiently evident without the paraphrase in our version.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Therefore hearken unto me - Elihu proceeds now to reply to what he regarded as the erroneous sentiments of Job, and to show the impropriety of language which reflected so much on God and his government. Instead, however, of meeting the facts in the case, and showing how the actual course of events could be reconciled with justice, he resolves it all into a matter of sovereignty, and maintains that it is wrong to doubt the rectitude of the dealings of one…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 Elihu had showed Job, that God meant him no hurt by afflicting him, but intended his spiritual benefit. Here he shows, that God did him no wrong by afflicting him. If the former did not satisfy him, this ought to silence him. God cannot do wickedness, nor the Almighty commit wrong. If services now go unrewarded, and sins now go unpunished, yet there is a day coming, when God will fully render to every man according to his works. Further…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The passage connects three ideas to the belief that God can do no wrong (34:10, 12): God rewards or punishes people based on their actions (34:11); As the creator, God does not have to answer to anyone (34:13). Every living being relies on God for life. God can take life away without being wrong (34:14–15; compare Romans 9:19–29).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. The true answer to Job, which God follows up (Job 38:1-41). Man is to believe God's ways are right, because they are His, not because we fully see they are so (Ro 9:14; De 32:4; Ge 18:25).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 34:10
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries