Job 22:3
in Job 22Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
KJV
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
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This verse in Job 22
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIs it any profit to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? For in all that we do well, we are doing good to ourselves and not to God. And hence by the Psalmist it is said, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my God, seeing that Thou needest not my goods.
This site's exposition
Eliphaz the Temanite replied
on Job 22:1-3
Eliphaz opens with a premise that removes any divine self-interest: "Can a man be of use to God". So God needs nothing from Job, which clears the way for Eliphaz's conclusion that the suffering traces to Job's guilt. Chapters 1 and 2 have shown another cause of the suffering.
This site's exposition
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous
Verse 3 presses the thought of verse 2: the Almighty gains no profit when a man is righteous or his ways blameless. Wesley adds that God needs no man's service. Clarke says God can neither gain nor lose by the righteous.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"What does it matter to the Lord, if you were blameless in your works?" That is, it has no importance for God. "Or does he gain any profit from the righteousness of your conduct?" It cannot be said that, in fact, it contributes to him any advantage, he says. Since Job in every possible manner had said that God did this and because of him I am suffering, Eliphaz wants to show that [his afflictions] do not come from God. "Or, in order to make a case against you, will he accuse you and enter into judgment with you?" Yes, you can be as righteous as you want, it does not matter for him, and he has no consideration for you, that is, what you do deserves little interest on the part of God. In fact, if he really wanted to judge you, he would have found your faults.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, someone is provoked to dispute or reason with another because of things which he received from him, so that a comparison of things given and things received may be made. However, it is presumptuous that man should think that the goods which he does …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Is it - Such a pleasure as he needs for his own ease and contentment. Nay, God needs not us, or our services. We are undone, forever undone without him: but he is happy, forever happy without us.
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous?....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty - Infinite in his perfections, he can neither gain nor lose by the wickedness or righteousness of men.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? - This is the same sentiment which was advanced in the previous verse. The meaning is, that it can be no advantage to God that a man is righteous. He is not dependent on man for happiness, and cannot be deterred from dealing justly with him because he is in danger of losing anything. In this sense, it is true.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַחֵ֣פֶץ | hachefetz | ¿ [does] pleasure | H2656 → | 39 times |
| לְ֭שַׁדַּי | leshadai | [belong] to [the] Almighty | H7706 → | 48 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| תִצְדָּ֑ק | titzdak | you are righteous | H6663 → | 41 times |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and or? | H518 → | 1069 times |
| בֶּ֝֗צַע | betza' | profit | H1215 → | |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| תַתֵּ֥ם | tatem | you make blameless | H8552 → | |
| דְּרָכֶֽיךָ׃ | derakheikha | ways your | H1870 → | 707 times |
הַחֵ֣פֶץ¿ [does] pleasure
hachefetzH2656 →39 times
לְ֭שַׁדַּי[belong] to [the] Almighty
leshadaiH7706 →48 times
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
תִצְדָּ֑קyou are righteous
titzdakH6663 →41 times
וְאִם־and or?
veim-H518 →1069 times
בֶּ֝֗צַעprofit
betza'H1215 →
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
תַתֵּ֥םyou make blameless
tatemH8552 →
דְּרָכֶֽיךָ׃ways your
derakheikhaH1870 →707 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
2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Through
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Proverbs 15:29
Through
Proverbs 11:1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 25:13–16
You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light.
- Proverbs 16:11
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
- Deuteronomy 25:13–16
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; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 22:3-4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.