New International Version
Job 37:19
19“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
Job 37:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“So teach the rest of us what to say to God. We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
Context of Job 37:19
17You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind, 18can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze? “Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. 20Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up? 21Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
Read all of Job 37Job 37:19 word by word
ה֭וֹדִיעֵנוּ מַה־נֹּ֣אמַר ל֑וֹ לֹ֥א־נַ֝עֲרֹ֗ךְ מִפְּנֵי־חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 37:19
- Job 12:3But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?
- Job 13:3But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.
- Job 26:14And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”
- Job 28:20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
- Job 38:2“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
- Job 42:3You 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.
- Psalms 73:16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
- Psalms 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
- Proverbs 30:2Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
- 1 John 3:2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Commentaries on Job 37:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Teach us what we shall say unto him? - Thou pretendest to be so very wise, and to know every thing about God, pray make us as wise as thyself, that we may be able to approach with thy boldness the Sovereign of the world; and maintain our cause with thy confidence before him. As for our parts, we are ignorant; and, on all these subjects, are enveloped with darkness. Mr. Good translates: - "Teach us how we may address him, When arrayed in robes of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Teach us what we shall say unto him - This seems to be addressed to Job. It is the language of Elihu, implying that he was overawed with a sense of the majesty and glory of such a God. He knew not in what manner, or with what words to approach such a Being, and he asks Job to inform him, if he knew. We cannot order our speech by reason of darkness - Job had repeatedly professed a desire to bring his cause directly before God, and to argue it in his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts, So 4:16. The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine government. Those who, through grace, know much of God, know nothing, in comparison…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say." order--frame. darkness--of mind; ignorance. "The eyes are bewilderingly blinded, when turned in bold controversy with God towards the sunny heavens" (Job 37:18) [Umbreit].Read the comment
Topics related to Job 37:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 37
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries