Job 36:3
in Job 36I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
KJV
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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This verse in Job 36
Commentary
10 notes on this verseI will repeat my knowledge from the beginning. But because, on the mention of knowledge, his pride of heart hath displayed itself in his voice, he is plainly discovered to be a haughty person, if he does not quickly conceal himself by some disguise. Whence in concealing his own arrogance, he immediately introduces the righteousness of the Lord, and says, And I will prove my Maker just. In order that, while he speaks as if in behalf of God's righteousness, whatever escapes from him arrogantly, may be excused in the judgment of man.
This site's exposition
And Elihu continued
on Job 36:1-4
Elihu asks a last hearing, since “I get my knowledge from afar”. Gill reads this as Elihu reaching past the friends' arguments for a wider view of providence. Henry reads “one perfect in knowledge is with you” as bold self-assurance that the whirlwind speeches will answer on their own terms.
This site's exposition
I will ascribe justice to my Maker
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set this against Job's charge of wrong, which Elihu answered at Job 34:10-12. They quote Barnes: whoever looks into God's ways should presume at the outset that they are just. John Wesley takes knowledge from afar as God's works.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since he intends to introduce reasons a second time against both of these ideas, he says, "I will take up my argument from the beginning," for against everything which has been said from the beginning, I will again adduce arguments which support my opinion. He …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I will not confine my discourse to thy particular case, but wilt justify God by declaring his great and glorious works of creation and providence both in the heaven and in the earth, and the manner of his dealing with men in other parts and ages of the world. Ascribe - I will clear and maintain this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar,....
That his design was undeniably honest; for all he aimed at was to ascribe righteousness to his Maker, to maintain and clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. In speaking of God, and speaking for him, it is good to remember that he is our Maker, to call him so, and therefore to be ready to do him and the interests of his kingdom the best service we can.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I will fetch my knowledge from afar - What I say shall not be mere commonplace. It shall be the result of reflection on subjects that lie out of the ordinary range of thought. The idea is, that he did not mean to go over the ground that had been already trodden, or to suggest such reflections as would occur to anyone, but that he meant to bring his illustrations from abstruser matters, and from things that had escaped their attention.
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
from afar--not trite commonplaces, but drawn from God's mighty works. ascribe righteousness--whereas Job ascribed unrighteousness (Job 34:10, 12). A man, in enquiring into God's ways, should at the outset presume they are all just, be willing to find them so, and expect that the result of investigation will prove them to be so; such a one will never be disappointed [BARNES].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
I will fetch my knowledge from afar - למרחוק lemerachok, “from the distant place,” meaning probably both remote antiquity and heaven; see below. I will show thee that all antiquity and experience are on my side. I can bring proofs from the remotest ages and from the most distant countries to demonstrate that God is infinitely Wise, and can do nothing foolish or erroneous; that he is infinitely Powerful, and can bring all the purposes of his wisdom to effect; that he is infinitely Good, and can will nothing, and can do nothing that is not good in itself, and well calculated to do good to his creatures. And I shall show that his operations in the heavens and on the earth prove and demonstrate the whole. And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker - By proving the above points, the righteous conduct of God, and his gracious government of the world, will be fully established. That Elihu brings his knowledge from afar - from every part of the creation, as well as from the Divine nature - is evident from the end of the chapter. 1. The omnipotence of God; - God is great. 2. The eternity of God - We know him not, the number of his years cannot be found out, Job 36:26. 3. From the economy of God in the atmosphere, in dews, rain, vapor, and the irrigation of the earth; - He maketh small the drops, etc., Job 36:27, Job 36:28. 4. In the thunder and lightning, by which he performs such wonders in the atmosphere, and executes such judgments in the world; - Also who can understand the noise of his tabernacle? He spreadeth his light upon it. He judgeth the people, etc., Job 36:29-33.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֶשָּׂ֣א | ʾesa' | I will bear | H5375 → | 656 times |
| דֵ֭עִי | dei | knowledge my | H1843 → | 5 times |
| לְמֵרָח֑וֹק | lemerachok | <to> from afar | H7350 → | 84 times |
| וּ֝לְפֹעֲלִ֗י | ulefoali | and to maker my | H6466 → | 57 times |
| אֶֽתֵּֽן־ | ʾeten- | I will ascribe | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| צֶֽדֶק׃ | tzedek | righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
אֶשָּׂ֣אI will bear
ʾesa'H5375 →656 times
דֵ֭עִיknowledge my
deiH1843 →5 times
לְמֵרָח֑וֹק<to> from afar
lemerachokH7350 →84 times
וּ֝לְפֹעֲלִ֗יand to maker my
ulefoaliH6466 →57 times
אֶֽתֵּֽן־I will ascribe
ʾeten-H5414 →2011 times
צֶֽדֶק׃righteousness
tzedekH6664 →119 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
James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
it leads to
- John 3:27
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- Matthew 7:11
So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- John 3:27
Through
James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Galatians 5:22–23
About Job
This page draws on 9 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; 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.