Job 11:8 BSB — MannaFest

Job 11:8

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

KJV

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

⋯

Commentary

4 voices

Gregory the Dialogist

Morals on the Book of Job, Book X (604)

He is higher than heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know? His measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. In that God is set forth as 'higher than heaven,' 'deeper than hell,' 'longer than the earth,' and 'broader than the sea,' this must be understood in a spiritual sense, inasmuch as it is impious to conceive any thing concerning Him after the proportions of body. Now He is 'higher than heaven,' in that He transcends all things by the Incomprehensibility of His spiritual Nature.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

His judgments are a great deep. Paul attributes such immeasurable dimensions to the divine love as Zophar here attributes to the divine wisdom, and yet recommends it to our acquaintance. 18, 19 , That you may know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of the love of Christ.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

It is as high as heaven - High as the heavens, what canst thou work? Deep below sheol, (the invisible world), what canst thou know? Long beyond the earth, and broad beyond the sea, is its measure. These are instances in the immensity of created things, and all out of the reach of human power and knowledge; and if these things are so, how incomprehensible must he be, who designed, created, preserves, and governs the whole! We find the same thought in Milton: - “These are thy glorious works, Parent of good! Almighty! Thine this universal frame: How wondrous fair!

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

8 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
גָּבְהֵ֣י	ga.ve.Hei	[the] heights of	H1363 →
שָׁ֭מַיִם	Sha.ma.yim	[the] heavens	H8064 →
מַה־	mah-	what?	H4100 →
תִּפְעָ֑ל	tif.'Al	will you do	H6466 →
עֲמֻקָּ֥ה	'a.mu.Kah	deep	H6013 →
מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל	mi.she.'ol	more than Sheol	H7585 →
מַה־	mah-	what?	H4100 →
תֵּדָֽע׃	te.Da'	will you know	H3045 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
leads to
- Romans 11:31–36
  so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
- Psalms 103:11
  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
- Matthew 11:25
  At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Psalms 77:19
  Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.
- Psalms 36:5
  Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Through
Psalms 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
leads to
- Psalms 113:4
  The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.
- Psalms 8:1
  O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
Through
Job 26:6
Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
leads to
- Psalms 139:8
  If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

About Job

Job Hears of His Misfortunes — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Job: the study guide →Read chapter 11 →The featured study →

Continue: Job 11 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Job

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Job