Job 37:20
in Job 37Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
KJV
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
⋯
This verse in Job 37
Commentary
10 notes on this verseShall it be told him that I speak?.... And what I speak? there is no need of it, since he is omniscient, and knows every word that is spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him, his ways, and his works, worthy relating, or worthy of his hearing, being so very imperfect? nor can the things I have spoken of, though common things, be fully explained to any; or should it be told him, the Lord, that he, Elihu, had spoke as Job had done, and arraigned his justice, and complained of his dealings?
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.
This site's exposition
ask to be swallowed up
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set this against Job's wish to speak before God at Job 13:3. John Gill notes that God already knows every word men speak. Elihu counts his own words too poor to be told to Him.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since he had spoken many times about the divine effects, lest this be imputed to him from presumption as though he thought that he knew perfectly these things, he disclaims this saying, "Who will tell him what I am saying?" as if he says: No …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXVII · Written before 604.
proposed
Who will tell Him the things which I say? Even if a man shall speak, he shall be swallowed up. As if he plainly said; The unheard truths which I declare to Him, from an acute sense of His praises, who can repeat, even after he has heard them?
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Thus the disciples feared when they entered into a cloud, Luke ix. Yet he looks to the north, and sees it clear that way, which gives him hope that the clouds are not gathering for a deluge; they are covered, but not surrounded, with them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (Job 13:3, 18-22). if . . . surely he shall be swallowed up--The parallelism more favors UMBREIT, "Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) that he is (without cause) being destroyed?"
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Shall it be told him that I speak? - Shall I dare to whisper even before God? And suppose any one were to accuse me before him for what I have spoken of him, though that has been well intended, how should I be able to stand in his presence? I should be swallowed up in consternation, and consumed with the splendor of his majesty. But in what state art thou? What hast thou been doing?
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Shall it be told him that I speak? - Still the language of profound awe and reverence, as if he would not have it even intimated to God that he had presumed to say anything in regard to him, or with a view to explain the reason of his doings. If a man speak - That is, if he attempt to speak with God; to argue a case with him; to contend with him in debate; to oppose him. Elihu had designed to reprove Job for the bold and presumptuous manner in which he bad spoken of God, and for his wish to enter into a debate with him in order to vindicate his cause. He now says, that if anyone should attempt this, God had power at once to destroy him; and that such an attempt would be perilous to his life. But other interpretations have been proposed, which may be seen in Rosenmuller, Umbreit, and Lee. Surely he shall be swallowed up - Destroyed for his presumption and rashness in thus contending with the Almighty. Elihu says that on this account he would not dare to speak with God. He would fear that he would come forth in his anger, and destroy him. How much man by nature instinctively feels, when he has any just views of the majesty of God, that he needs a Mediator!
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַֽיְסֻפַּר־ | haysupar- | ¿ will it be recounted | H5608 → | 159 times |
| ל֭וֹ | lo | to him | ||
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אֲדַבֵּ֑ר | ʾadaber | I will speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אִֽם־ | ʾim- | or? | H518 → | 1069 times |
| אָ֥מַר | ʾamar | did he say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אִ֝֗ישׁ | ʾish | anyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יְבֻלָּֽע׃ | yevula' | he will be swallowed up | H1104 → | 49 times |
הַֽיְסֻפַּר־¿ will it be recounted
haysupar-H5608 →159 times
ל֭וֹto him
lo
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אֲדַבֵּ֑רI will speak
ʾadaberH1696 →1141 times
אִֽם־or?
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
אָ֥מַרdid he say
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
אִ֝֗ישׁanyone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
יְבֻלָּֽע׃he will be swallowed up
yevula'H1104 →49 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
Psalms 139:4Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Psalms 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- Psalms 50:19–21
You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit.
- 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.
- Matthew 12:35–37
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
- Hebrews 4:12–13
Through
Job 6:3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.
it leads to
- Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
- Job 23:2
“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
- Psalms 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I…
- Proverbs 27:3
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); 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.