Job 34:23
in Job 34For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
KJV
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
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This verse in Job 34
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For he will not lay upon man more than right - Very various translations have been given of this verse. According to our common version, it means that God will not deal with man in such a manner as to give him just reason for calling in question the rectitude of the divine dealings. He shall in no case receive more than his sins deserve, so as to give him cause for complaint. This is undoubtedly a correct sentiment; but it may be doubted whether it is the sense conveyed by the original.
This site's exposition
His eyes are on the ways of a man
on Job 34:21-25
“For His eyes are on the ways of a man” answers Job's complaint of a hidden God. Elihu shows justice in history, where “He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place”. “He recognizes their deeds”, and so “He overthrows them in the night”.
This site's exposition
God need not examine a man further
Albert Barnes reports many rival renderings of this verse. Umbreit, cited by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, gives the sense the Berean follows, that God needs no long scrutiny of a man before judgment. They read verse 24 the same way, where the mighty fall without any searching out.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
"For he has not appointed a time for anyone to go before God in judgment," that is, recognize the power of God and do not consider him as a man, and do not desire to be with him in judgment, as he brings afflictions to …
For it is no longer in the power of man to come near to God for judgment. This verse requires the greater discussion, the more painful is that which it speaks of, if it is neglected. Here doubtless that judgment is not designated which punishes by eternal retribution, but that which, conceived by the mind, cleanses through our conversation [al. 'conversion.']. For whoever is afraid of being condemned by the first of these does not desire to approach near it.
Since he had said that princes die suddenly and are dispossessed for their sins, (which seems to be an irremediable punishment), he then shows the reason for this from the fact that when God judges a man for his sins and finally condemns him, the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For he will not lay upon man more than right,....
Is it fit that sinners should feel no smart, that scholars should be under no discipline? Or, if we must be afflicted, is it fit that we should choose what rod we will be beaten with? No; it is fit that every thing should be according to God's mind, and not ours; for he is the Creator, and we are creatures.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If he do, God will be justified when he speaks and clear when he judges. Therefore Job was very much to be blamed for his complaints of God, and is here well-advised to let fall his action, for he would certainly be cast or non-suited. It is not for man ever to purpose to enter into judgment with the Omnipotent; so some read the whole verse.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Better, as UMBREIT, "He does not (needs not to) regard (as in Job 34:14; Isa 41:20) man long (so Hebrew, Ge 46:29) in order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment." Literally, "lest his (attention) upon men" (Job 11:10, 11). So Job 34:24, "without number" ought to be translated, "without [needing any] searching out," such as has to be made in human judgments.
For he will not lay upon man - The meaning appears to be this: He will not call man a second time into judgment; he does not try a cause twice; his decisions are just, and his sentence without appeal. Mr. Good translates: - “Behold, not to man hath he intrusted the time Of coming into judgment with God.” Man’s time is not in his own hand; nor is his lot cast or ruled by his own wisdom and power. When God thinks best, he will judge for him; and, if oppressed or calumniated, he will bring forth his righteousness as the light, and do him justice on his adversaries.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| יָשִׂ֣ים | yasim | he will appoint | H7760 → | 584 times |
| ע֑וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| לַהֲלֹ֥ךְ | lahalokh | to go | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֵ֝֗ל | ʾel | God | H410 → | 241 times |
| בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ | bamishpat | in <the> judgment | H4941 → | 422 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
אִ֭ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
יָשִׂ֣יםhe will appoint
yasimH7760 →584 times
ע֑וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
לַהֲלֹ֥ךְto go
lahalokhH1980 →1546 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֵ֝֗לGod
ʾelH410 →241 times
בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃in <the> judgment
bamishpatH4941 →422 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
Romans 9:20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
it leads to
- Isaiah 29:16
You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of…
- Isaiah 45:9–11
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
- Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
- Job 33:13
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
- Isaiah 29:16
Through
Ezra 9:13After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a…
it leads to
- Psalms 103:10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.
- Lamentations 3:22
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
- Psalms 103:10
Through
Jeremiah 2:5This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
it leads to
- 2 Kings 17:15
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and themselves became worthless, going after the surrounding…
- Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- 2 Kings 17:15
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, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXV; Ishodad of Merv, COMMENTARY ON JOB 34:23; 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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.