English Standard Version
Job 6:25
25How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?
Job 6:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
- New International Version (NIV)How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
- New King James Version (NKJV)How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?
Context of Job 6:25
23Or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless'? 24"Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove? 26Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? 27You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend.
Read all of Job 6Job 6:25 word by word
מַה־נִּמְרְצ֥וּ אִמְרֵי־יֹ֑שֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִ֖יחַ הוֹכֵ֣חַ מִכֶּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 6:25
- Job 4:4Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.
- Job 16:5I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
- Proverbs 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
- Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
- Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
- Ecclesiastes 12:10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
- Job 13:5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
- Job 16:3Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
- Job 21:34How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
- Job 24:25If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
- Job 32:3He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.
Commentaries on Job 6:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25How forcible are right words - A well-constructed argument, that has truth for its basis, is irresistible. But what doth your arguing reprove? - Your reasoning is defective, because your premises are false; and your conclusions prove nothing, because of the falsity of the premises whence they are drawn. The last clause, literally rendered, is, What reproof, in a reproof from you? As you have proved no fault you have consequently reproved no vice. Instead…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25How forcible are right words! - How weighty and impressive are words of truth! Job means that he was accustomed to feel their power, and to admit it on his soul. If their words were such, he would listen to them with profound attention, and in silence. The expression has a proverbial cast. But what doth your arguing reprove? - Or rather, what doth the reproof from you reprove? or what do your reproaches prove? Job professes a readiness to listen to words…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-30Verses 14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, He 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-27Job and his friends might have shared a covenant (special agreement) of loyalty and faith (Hebrew khesed; see Genesis 21:23; Exodus 15:13; 1 Chronicles 16:34). This bond would have made them like brothers, those who protect, and friends he could trust (Job 6:14–15; 6:21–23, 27). If they were in a covenant with one another, Job was accusing his friends of violating their covenant with him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-2524-25. Irony. If you can "teach me" the right view, I am willing to be set right, and "hold my tongue"; and to be made to see my error. But then if your words be really the right words, how is it that they are so feeble? "Yet how feeble are the words of what you call the right view." So the Hebrew is used (in Mi 2:10; 1:9). The English Version, "How powerful," &c., does not agree so well with the last clause of the verse.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 6:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 6
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries