Job 35:14
in Job 35How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!
KJV
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
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This verse in Job 35
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAlthough thou sayest thou shall not see him,.... Which is another expression of Job's taken notice of by Elihu, and to which he makes answer; he seems to refer to Job 23:3. God is indeed invisible in his nature and essence, but is to be seen in his works of creation and providence; which Job was acquainted with, and in which he had seen somewhat of the glory of God, and of his divine perfections in them. See Job 9:
This site's exposition
you do not see Him
on Job 35:14-16
Clarke reads verse 15 as Elihu accusing Job of concluding that God's slowness to punish evil means He has not “taken much notice of folly”. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the closing verdict as Elihu's version of the friends' charge, one God judges differently at 42:7.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"For he, the Almighty, observes all those who commit impieties. But plead before him, if you can praise him conveniently." If he had established a court and had published its decisions, you would have not praised him, you would have not glorified him, as he deserves, with regard to what happened to you, because you think you have been unjustly punished. Not to be able to praise God as he deserves, that is not too serious; but not to be able to praise him as he deserves when we plead before him, that is really serious.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI · Written before 604.
proposed
Even when thou shall say, He doth not consider, judge thyself before Him, and wait for Him. For perhaps when our cry seems to be disregarded, the hope, which was in our heart, is weakened, and we believe that assistance from above will fail us, because we are too slow in asking: and we lament that the unavenged wrongs we are enduring are almost disregarded by God.
God especially does not seem to see the causes of individuals because the wicked sometimes prosper, but to disprove this he says, "Even though you have said," i.e. when you reflected in your heart, "He does not consider," the deeds of men, "be judged in …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But it was not fair to charge this upon Job, which he had neither directly nor indirectly affirmed. Clouds, &c. - They are far above us, and God is far above them. How much then is he out of the reach either of our sins or our services?
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Then thou shalt see the full meaning of these dark events, and the final period of these dismal events; then thou shalt see his face with joy; therefore trust in him, depend upon him, wait for him, and believe that the issue will be good at last." When we consider that God is infinitely wise, and righteous, and faithful, and that he is a God of judgment ( Isa. xxx.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
Judgment - Justice is at his tribunal, and in all his ways and administrations. Trust - Instead of murmuring, repent of what is past, humble thyself under God's hand, wait patiently in his way, 'till deliverance come; for it will certainly come if thou dost not hinder it.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Thou sayest thou shalt not see Him - Several MSS. have “Thou shalt not see me,” and the Septuagint, and one other, “Thou shalt not see us,” but without the points, תשורנו, the original may be read see Him or see Us, the third person singular, or the first person plural. Yet judgment is before him - Rest assured that God has not forgotten either to punish or to save; therefore trust in him; choose to be a monument of his mercy, rather than of his justice.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But the Hebrew favors MAURER, "How much less (will God . . . regard, Job 35:13), since thou sayest, that He does not regard thee." So in Job 4:19. Thus Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 19:7; 30:20). judgment--that is, thy cause, thy right; as in Ps 9:16;
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him - This is addressed to Job, and is designed to entreat him to trust in God. Elihu seems to refer to some remark that Job had made, like that in Job 23:8, where he said that he could not come near him, nor bring his cause before him. If he went to the east, the west, thc north, or the south, he could not see him, and could get no opportunity of bringing his cause before him: see the notes at that place. Elihu here says that though it is true in fact that God is invisible, yet this ought not to be regarded as a reason why he should not confide in him. The argument of Elihu here - which is undoubtedly sound - is, that the fact that God is invisible should not be regarded as any evidence that he does not attend to the affairs of people, or that he is not worthy of our love. Judgment is before him - He is a God of justice, and will do that which is right. Therefore trust him - Though he is invisible, and though you cannot bring, your cause directly before him. The word which is used here (תחולל tchûlēl, from חול chûl) means “to turn around”; to twist; to be firm - as a rope is that is twisted; and then to wait or delay - that is, to be firm in patience. Here it may have this meaning, that Job was to be firm and unmoved, patiently waiting for the time when the now invisible God would interpose in his behalf, though he could not now see him. The idea is, that we may trust the “invisible God,” or that we should patiently “wait” for him to manifest himself in our behalf, and may leave all our interests in his hands, with the feeling that they are entirely safe. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Surely you who say Surely you, whose cry comes only because of Him, and you say and cry that you do not see Him to debate with Him.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַ֣ף | ʾaf | indeed? | H637 → | 134 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | if | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| תֹ֭אמַר | tomar | you will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ | teshurenu | you observe him | H7789 → | 15 times |
| דִּ֥ין | din | [the] case | H1779 → | 20 times |
| לְ֝פָנָ֗יו | lefanav | [is] <to> before him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וּתְח֥וֹלֵֽל | utecholel | so you may wait | H2342 → | 58 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ | lo | for him |
אַ֣ףindeed?
ʾafH637 →134 times
כִּֽי־if
ki-H3588 →4482 times
תֹ֭אמַרyou will say
tomarH559 →5305 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
תְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּyou observe him
teshurenuH7789 →15 times
דִּ֥ין[the] case
dinH1779 →20 times
לְ֝פָנָ֗יו[is] <to> before him
lefanavH6440 →2123 times
וּתְח֥וֹלֵֽלso you may wait
utecholelH2342 →58 times
לֽוֹ׃for him
lo
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
Isaiah 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the…
it leads to
- Romans 8:28–39
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Isaiah 54:15
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- John 10:28–30
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- Isaiah 50:8
The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!
- Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:28–39
Through
Psalms 62:8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
it leads to
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.
- Philippians 4:6
Through
Psalms 62:5Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.
it leads to
- Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
- Micah 7:7
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); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 35:11-16; 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.
