New International Version
Job 22:2
2“Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him?
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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
Context of Job 22:2
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? 3What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? 4“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?
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 sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
- Psalms 16:2I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
- Job 21:15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’
- Deuteronomy 10:13and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
- Proverbs 4:7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
- Proverbs 9:12If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
- Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
- Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
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
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