New English Translation
Job 21:22
22Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?
Job 21:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
- New International Version (NIV)“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
Context of Job 21:22
20Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. 21For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off? Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high? 23“One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous, 24his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist.
Read all of Job 21Job 21:22 word by word
הַלְאֵ֥ל יְלַמֶּד־דָּ֑עַת וְ֝ה֗וּא רָמִ֥ים יִשְׁפּֽוֹט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 21:22
- Job 40:2“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”
- Isaiah 40:13Who comprehends the mind of the Lord, or gives him instruction as his counselor?
- Isaiah 45:9One who argues with his creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the potter, “What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!”
- Romans 11:34For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
- 1 Corinthians 2:16For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
- Job 34:17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,
- Psalms 113:5Who can compare to the Lord our God, who sits on a high throne?
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
- Isaiah 40:22He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent.
- 1 Corinthians 6:3Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters!
- 2 Peter 2:4For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,
- Jude 1:6You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.
- Revelation 20:1Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain.
Commentaries on Job 21:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Shall any teach God knowledge? - Who among the sons of men can pretend to teach God how to govern the world, who himself teaches those that are high - the heavenly inhabitants, that excel us infinitely both in knowledge and wisdom? Neither angels nor men can comprehend the reasons of the Divine providence. It is a depth known only to God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Shall any teach God knowledge? - This commences the reply of Job to the sentiments of his friends to which he had just adverted. The substance of the reply is, that no one could prescribe to God how he should deal with people, and that it; was not a FACT that people were treated as they had supposed. Instead of its being true, as they maintained, that wicked people would all be cut down in some fearful and violent manner, as a punishment for their sins…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 Job had described the prosperity of wicked people; in these verses he opposes this to what his friends had maintained about their certain ruin in this life. He reconciles this to the holiness and justice of God. Even while they prosper thus, they are light and worthless, of no account with God, or with wise men. In the height of their pomp and power, there is but a step between them and ruin. Job refers the difference Providence makes between…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22This question assumes the answer that no one can teach God a lesson (Isaiah 40:13–14; 45:9; Romans 11:34; 1 Corinthians 2:16). The phrase those on high might refer to good or bad angels (demons) (1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 20:1–3). Or, more likely, it refers to powerful people on earth (Job 34:17–19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Reply of Job, "In all these assertions you try to teach God how He ought to deal with men, rather than prove that He does in fact so deal with them. Experience is against you. God gives prosperity and adversity as it pleases Him, not as man's wisdom would have it, on principles inscrutable to us" (Is 40:13; Ro 11:34). those ... high--the high ones, not only angels, but men (Is 2:12-17).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 21:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 21
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
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