Job 37:19
in Job 37Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Teach us what we shall say unto him; For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness.
KJV
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
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This verse in Job 37
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Teach us what we shall say unto him - This seems to be addressed to Job. It is the language of Elihu, implying that he was overawed with a sense of the majesty and glory of such a God. He knew not in what manner, or with what words to approach such a Being, and he asks Job to inform him, if he knew. We cannot order our speech by reason of darkness - Job had repeatedly professed a desire to bring his cause directly before God, and to argue it in his presence.
This site's exposition
Teach us what we should say to Him
on Job 37:19-22
Elihu confesses his speech has failed, “Teach us what we should say to Him”. The older commentators divide over “Out of the north He comes in golden splendor”. Delitzsch and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the verse sits just before the Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Teach us what we shall say to him, so that we may not rejoice at the sight of darkness," that is, take heed that you do not hide anything from us.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXVII · Written before 604.
proposed
Shew us what to say to Him; for we in truth are involved in darkness. As if He said; Thou, who enjoyest the great light of wisdom, oughtest to teach us, who are involved in the darkness of ignorance...
Lest Job perhaps should presumptuously say that he knew the works of God perfectly, he continues mockingly, "Show us what we should say to him," as if to say: If you are so wise that you know all the works of God and you can …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Teach us what we shall say unto him,....
Note, The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the divine nature and the administrations of the divine government. Those that through grace know much of God, yet know little, yea, nothing, in comparison with what is to be known, and what will be known, when that which is perfect shall come and the veil shall be rent.
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)
Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say." order--frame. darkness--of mind; ignorance. "The eyes are bewilderingly blinded, when turned in bold controversy with God towards the sunny heavens" (Job 37:18) [UMBREIT].
Teach us what we shall say unto him? - Thou pretendest to be so very wise, and to know every thing about God, pray make us as wise as thyself, that we may be able to approach with thy boldness the Sovereign of the world; and maintain our cause with thy confidence before him. As for our parts, we are ignorant; and, on all these subjects, are enveloped with darkness. Mr. Good translates: - “Teach us how we may address him, When arrayed in robes of darkness.” It is a strong and biting irony, however we take it.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ה֭וֹדִיעֵנוּ | hodienu | make known to us | H3045 → | 945 times |
| מַה־ | mah- | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| נֹּ֣אמַר | nomar | will we say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| ל֑וֹ | lo | to him | ||
| לֹ֥א־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נַ֝עֲרֹ֗ךְ | naarokh | we will set in order | H6186 → | 74 times |
| מִפְּנֵי־ | mipenei- | <from> because of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ | choshekh | darkness | H2822 → | 80 times |
ה֭וֹדִיעֵנוּmake known to us
hodienuH3045 →945 times
מַה־what?
mah-H4100 →752 times
נֹּ֣אמַרwill we say
nomarH559 →5305 times
ל֑וֹto him
lo
לֹ֥א־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
נַ֝עֲרֹ֗ךְwe will set in order
naarokhH6186 →74 times
מִפְּנֵי־<from> because of
mipenei-H6440 →2123 times
חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃darkness
choshekhH2822 →80 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
Job 38:2“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?
it leads to
- Job 42:3
You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
- Job 35:16
So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”
- 1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
- Job 42:3
Through
Psalms 73:22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 3:18
I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”
- Psalms 92:6
A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
- Ecclesiastes 3:18
Through
Job 26:14Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:26–29
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one…
- Psalms 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
- Isaiah 40:26–29
Through
Job 13:3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:21
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
- Isaiah 41:21
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); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JOB 37:19; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.
