Job 42:3

Job 42:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
• New International Version (NIV)You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
• English Standard Version (ESV)'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Context of Job 42:3

1Then Job answered the Lord: 2“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted; you asked, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know. 4You said, ‘Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’ 5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.

Job 42:3 word by word

מִ֤י זֶ֨ה׀ מַעְלִ֥ים עֵצָ֗ה בְּֽלִ֫י דָ֥עַת לָכֵ֣ן הִ֭גַּדְתִּי וְלֹ֣א אָבִ֑ין נִפְלָא֥וֹת מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי וְלֹ֣א אֵדָֽע׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• he that hidethעָלַם‛âlam · to concealH5956
• counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
• without knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• therefore have I utteredנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• that I understoodבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• not; things too wonderfulפָּלָאpâlâ' · to wonderH6381
• for me, which I knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045

Cross-references for Job 42:3

• Job 38:2“Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?
• Psalms 40:5O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!
• Psalms 131:1O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.
• Psalms 139:6Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
• Proverbs 30:2Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;

Commentaries on Job 42:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Who is he that hideth counsel - These are the words of Job, and they are a repetition of what Jehovah said, Job 38:2; : "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" Job now having heard the Almighty's speech, and having received his reproof, echoes back his words: "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge Alas, I am the man; I have uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, that I knew not. God had said, Job…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? - This is repeated from Job 38:2. As used there these are the words of the Almighty, uttered as a reproof of Job for the manner in which he had undertaken to explain the dealings of God; see the notes at that verse. As repeated here by Job, they are an acknowledgment of the truth of what is there implied, that “he” had been guilty of hiding counsel in this manner, and the repetition here is a part of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6Job understood the message of God’s speeches: I know that You can do all things. Nothing is too hard for him (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26). Job says, No plan of Yours can be thwarted (Job 23:13; Isaiah 14:27; 46:10). Job realized how different he was from God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. I am the man! Job in God's own words (Job 38:2) expresses his deep and humble penitence. God's word concerning our guilt should be engraven on our hearts and form the groundwork of our confession. Most men in confessing sin palliate rather than confess. Job in omitting "by words" (Job 38:2), goes even further than God's accusation. Not merely my words, but my whole thoughts and ways were "without knowledge." too wonderful--I rashly denied that Thou…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 42:3

• God
• Job

In the dictionaries

• Ashes
• Hearing
• Wonderful

Commentaries on Job 42

• 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