God’s Word Translation
Job 22:2
2“Can a human be of any use to God when even a wise person is only useful 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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
Context of Job 22:2
1Then Eliphaz from Teman replied ⌞to Job⌟, “Can a human be of any use to God when even a wise person is only useful to himself? 3Is the Almighty pleased when you are righteous? Does he gain anything when you follow the path of integrity? 4Does God correct you and bring you into a court of law because you fear him?
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’ve sinned, what effect can you have on God? If you’ve done many wrongs, what can you do to him?
- Psalms 16:2I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord. Without you, I have nothing good.”
- Luke 17:10That’s the way it is with you. When you’ve done everything you’re ordered to do, say, ‘We’re worthless servants. We’ve only done our duty.’ ”
- Job 21:15Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? What do we gain if we pray to him?’
- Deuteronomy 10:13The Lord wants you to obey his commands and laws that I’m giving you today for your own good.
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who obtains understanding.
- Proverbs 4:7The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have.
- Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, your wisdom will help you. If you mock, you alone will be held responsible.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun.
- Matthew 5:29“So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.
- Galatians 6:7Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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