Job 11:6
in Job 11and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
KJV
And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
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This verse in Job 11
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThe secrets of wisdom - All the depths of his own counsels; the heights, lengths, and breadths, of holiness. That they are double to that which is, תושיה tushiyah, which we translate that which is, is a word frequent in Job and in the Book of Proverbs, and is one of the evidences brought in favor of Solomon as the author of this book.
This site's exposition
if only God would speak
on Job 11:5-6
Zophar wishes that God would "speak and open His lips against you", sure that the verdict would go against Job. Verse 6 ends with the harshest sentence any of the three friends speaks to Job's face, "God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves".
This site's exposition
true wisdom has two sides
Zophar claims that God's hidden wisdom would show Job a guilt he cannot see. Clarke takes two sides as double, the depths of God's counsel, and Henry reads the last line as God remitting part of the debt. The LORD's rebuke at Job 42:7 falls on this confidence.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
And that He would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that her law is manifold. The public works of Supreme Wisdom are when Almighty God rules those whom He creates, brings to an end the good things which He begins, and aids by His inspiration those whom He illumines with the light of His visitation. For it is plain to the eyes of all men, that those whom He created of His free bounty, He provides for with lovingkindness.
Take note that we fail to understand divine things in two ways. First, because as we cannot know "the invisible things of God" except through "things which have been created" (Rom. 1:20) and things which have been created express the power of the creator very …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Double - That they are far greater (the word double being used indefinitely for manifold, or plentiful) than that which is manifested. The secret wisdom of God is infinitely greater than that which is revealed to us by his word or works: the greatest part of what is known of God, is the least part of those perfections that are in him.
And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom,....
"Know therefore that, how sore soever the correction is that thou art under, God exacteth of thee less than thy iniquity deserves, " or (as some read it), "he remits thee part of thy iniquity, and does not deal with thee according to the full demerit of it." Note, (1.) When the debt of duty is not paid it is justice to insist upon the debt of punishment.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
to that which is!--Rather, "they are double to [man's] wisdom" [MICHAELIS]. So the Hebrew is rendered (Pr 2:7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1Co 1:25). exacteth--Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favor much of thy guilt."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom - The hidden things that pertain to wisdom. The reference here is to the wisdom of God himself. The sense is this, “you now think yourself pure and holy. You have confidence in your own wisdom and integrity. But this apprehension is based on a short-sighted view of God, and on ignorance of him. If he would speak and show you his wisdom; if he would express his sense of what purity is, you would at once see how far you have come from perfection, and would be overwhelmed with a sense of your comparative vileness and sin.” That they are double to that which is - Noyes renders this,” his wisdom which is unsearchable.” Dr. Good, strangely enough, “for they are intricacies to iniquity.” The expression, as it stands in our common version, is not very intelligible; and indeed it is difficult, to attach any idea to it. Of the words used in the Hebrew, the sense is not difficult. The word כפלים kı̂playı̂m, “double,” is from כפל kâphal “to fold,”” to double;” and means a doubling Job 41:5; and then two folds, or double folds, and the sense here is, that the wisdom of God is “double-fold;” that is, complicated, inexplicable, or manifold. It is not spread out and plain, but is infolded, so that it requires to be unrolled to be understood. The word rendered “that which is” (תשׁיה tûshı̂yâh), means properly a setting upright, uprightness - from ישׁע yâsha‛. Hence, it means help, deliverance, Job 6:13; purpose, undertaking, see the notes at Job 5:12; and then counsel, wisdom, understanding, Job 12:16; Isa 28:29. It means here, I suppose, “understanding;” and the idea is, that the wisdom of God is “double of understanding;” that is, it is so infolded, so complex, that it greatly surpasses our comprehension. […]
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְיַגֶּד־ | veyaged- | and may he tell | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לְךָ֨׀ | lekha | to you | ||
| תַּֽעֲלֻמ֣וֹת | taalumot | [the] secrets of | H8587 → | |
| חָכְמָה֮ | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כִפְלַ֪יִם | khiflayim | double | H3718 → | |
| לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥ה | letushiyah | [belongs] to sound wisdom | H8454 → | 12 times |
| וְדַ֡ע | veda' | and know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יַשֶּׁ֥ה | yasheh | he will cause to forget | H5382 → | |
| לְךָ֥ | lekha | to you | ||
| אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ | ʾeloha | God | H433 → | 57 times |
| מֵעֲוֹנֶֽךָ׃ | meavonekha | some of iniquity your | H5771 → | 233 times |
וְיַגֶּד־and may he tell
veyaged-H5046 →370 times
לְךָ֨׀to you
lekha
תַּֽעֲלֻמ֣וֹת[the] secrets of
taalumotH8587 →
חָכְמָה֮wisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
כִפְלַ֪יִםdouble
khiflayimH3718 →
לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥ה[belongs] to sound wisdom
letushiyahH8454 →12 times
וְדַ֡עand know
veda'H3045 →945 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יַשֶּׁ֥הhe will cause to forget
yashehH5382 →
לְךָ֥to you
lekha
אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַGod
ʾelohaH433 →57 times
מֵעֲוֹנֶֽךָ׃some of iniquity your
meavonekhaH5771 →233 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 13:35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
it leads to
- Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,
- Ephesians 3:9
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 16:25–26
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
- Psalms 78:2
Through
Lamentations 3:22Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
it leads to
- Psalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Luke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
- Nehemiah 9:31
But in Your great compassion, You did not put an end to them; nor did You forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God.
- Micah 7:18–19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Malachi 3:6
“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
- Psalms 86:15
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book X; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.