God’s Word Translation
Job 38:2
2“Who is this that belittles my advice with words that do not show any knowledge ⌞about it⌟?
Job 38:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
- New International Version (NIV)“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
Context of Job 38:2
1Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. “Who is this that belittles my advice with words that do not show any knowledge ⌞about it⌟? 3Brace yourself like a man! I will ask you, and you will teach me. 4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have ⌞such⌟ insight.
Read all of Job 38Job 38:2 word by word
מִ֤י זֶ֨ה׀ מַחְשִׁ֖יךְ עֵצָ֥ה בְמִלִּ֗ין בְּֽלִי־דָֽעַת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 38:2
- Job 12:3Like you, I have a mind. I am not inferior to you. But who doesn’t know these things?
- Job 23:4I would present ⌞my⌟ case to him. I would have a mouthful of arguments.
- Job 24:25“If it isn’t so, who can prove I’m a liar and show that my words are worthless?”
- Job 26:3You have advised the person who has no wisdom and offered so much assistance.
- Job 27:11“I will teach you about God’s power. I will not hide what the Almighty has done.
- Job 34:35‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words show no insight.’
- Job 35:16Job opens his mouth for no good reason and talks a lot without having any knowledge.”
- Job 42:3“⌞You said,⌟ ‘Who is this that belittles my advice without having any knowledge ⌞about it⌟?’ Yes, I have stated things I didn’t understand, things too mysterious for me to know.
- 1 Timothy 1:7They want to be experts in Moses’ Teachings. However, they don’t understand what they’re talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.
Commentaries on Job 38:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel - As if he had said, Who art thou who pretendest to speak on the deep things of God, and the administration of his justice and providence, which thou canst not comprehend; and leavest my counsels and designs the darker for thy explanation?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Who is this - Referring doubtless to Job, for he is specified in the previous verse. Some have understood it of Elihu (see Schultens), but the connection evidently demands that it should be understood as referring to Job. The object was, to reprove him for the presumptuous manner in which he had spoken of God and of his government. It was important before God manifested his approval of Job, that he should declare his sense of what he had said, and show…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2obscures My counsel: God’s accusation is similar to a charge made by Eliphaz and Elihu (15:2; 34:35; 35:16). Job eventually admitted his guilt (42:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. this--Job. counsel--impugning My divine wisdom in the providential arrangements of the universe. Such "words" (including those of the friends) rather obscure, than throw light on My ways. God is about to be Job's Vindicator, but must first bring him to a right state of mind for receiving relief.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 38:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 38
- 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
Commentaries