Job 42:3
in Job 42You 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
KJV
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
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This verse in Job 42
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWho is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? For Leviathan hides counsel without knowledge, because, though he is concealed from our infirmity by many frauds, he is yet disclosed to us by the holy inspiration of our Protector. He hides counsel without knowledge, because though he escapes the notice of those who are tempted, yet he cannot escape the notice of the Protector of the tempted.
This site's exposition
Then Job replied to the LORD
on Job 42:1-3
Job's reply takes up God's charge from 38:2 and turns it into his own confession. Henry sees Job make God's rebuke his own indictment in place of defending his earlier words. Barnes reads the confession as answering Job's demand to audit his suffering, not the suffering itself.
This site's exposition
things too wonderful for me to know
Job repeats the question the LORD asked at Job 38:2 about counsel without knowledge, and he leaves out by words. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown see him confess more than he was charged with. The plan he had denied was too wonderful for him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Who is he, he says, who being sparing of words, can hide the secrets of his mind in silence, because they have not been expressed in words?
The Medieval Church1 voice
Therefore, in consequence, he assails those who deny divine providence saying, "Who is the man who foolishly hides his plan without your knowledge?" who is so presumptuous and stupid to say that a human counsel can be hidden from God without God knowing it? From …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I have ignorantly overlooked the counsels and designs of God in afflicting me, and therefore have quarrelled with God, and insisted too much upon my own justification: Therefore I uttered that which I understood not, " that is, "I have passed a judgment upon the dispensations of Providence, though I was utterly a stranger to the reasons of them." Here, 1.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
Who - What am I that I should be guilty of such madness! Therefore - Because my mind was without knowledge. Knew not - I have spoken foolishly and unadvisedly of all things far above my reach.
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?.... It may be understood, and supplied, as it is by Cocceius, "thou didst say"; as the Lord had said, or to this purpose; see Gill on Job 38:2; to which Job here replies, I am the foolish man that has done it, I own it with sorrow, shame, and confusion: or it may be interpreted as condemning every other man that should act the like part.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? - This is repeated from Job 38:2. As used there these are the words of the Almighty, uttered as a reproof of Job for the manner in which he had undertaken to explain the dealings of God; see the notes at that verse. As repeated here by Job, they are an acknowledgment of the truth of what is there implied, that “he” had been guilty of hiding counsel in this manner, and the repetition here is a part of his confession.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Most men in confessing sin palliate rather than confess. Job in omitting "by words" (Job 38:2), goes even further than God's accusation. Not merely my words, but my whole thoughts and ways were "without knowledge." too wonderful--I rashly denied that Thou hast any fixed plan in governing human affairs, merely because Thy plan was "too wonderful" for my comprehension.
Who is he that hideth counsel - These are the words of Job, and they are a repetition of what Jehovah said, Job 38:2: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Job now having heard the Almighty’s speech, and having received his reproof, echoes back his words: “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge Alas, I am the man; I have uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, that I knew not. God had said, Job 38:3: “Gird up now thy loins like a man; I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” In allusion to this, Job exclaims to his Maker, Job 42:4: “Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will ask of Thee, and declare Thou unto Me.” I acknowledge my ignorance; I confess my foolishness and presumption; I am ashamed of my conduct; I lament my imperfections; I implore thy mercy; and beg thee to show me thy will, that I may ever think, speak, and do, what is pleasing in thy sight. Things too wonderful - I have spoken of thy judgments, which I did not comprehend.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִ֤י | mi | who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| זֶ֨ה׀ | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| מַעְלִ֥ים | ma'lim | [is] concealing | H5956 → | 28 times |
| עֵצָ֗ה | ʾetzah | counsel | H6098 → | 89 times |
| בְּֽלִ֫י | beli | not | H1097 → | 58 times |
| דָ֥עַת | daat | knowledge | H1847 → | 92 times |
| לָכֵ֣ן | lakhen | <to> therefore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| הִ֭גַּדְתִּי | higadti | I have told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אָבִ֑ין | ʾavin | I understood | H995 → | 170 times |
| נִפְלָא֥וֹת | niflaot | [things too] wonderful | H6381 → | 71 times |
| מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי | mimeni | for me | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אֵדָֽע׃ | ʾeda' | I knew | H3045 → | 945 times |
מִ֤יwho?
miH4310 →423 times
זֶ֨ה׀this
zehH2088 →1180 times
מַעְלִ֥ים[is] concealing
ma'limH5956 →28 times
עֵצָ֗הcounsel
ʾetzahH6098 →89 times
בְּֽלִ֫יnot
beliH1097 →58 times
דָ֥עַתknowledge
daatH1847 →92 times
לָכֵ֣ן<to> therefore
lakhenH3651 →771 times
הִ֭גַּדְתִּיI have told
higadtiH5046 →370 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
אָבִ֑יןI understood
ʾavinH995 →170 times
נִפְלָא֥וֹת[things too] wonderful
niflaotH6381 →71 times
מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּיfor me
mimeniH4480 →1188 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
אֵדָֽע׃I knew
ʾeda'H3045 →945 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 40:5Many, 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…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
- Psalms 139:17–18
How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God, how vast is their sum!
- Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- Psalms 71:15
My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
- Psalms 92:5
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
- Jeremiah 29:11
Through
Psalms 131:1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
it leads to
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Psalms 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
- Romans 12:16
Through
Psalms 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
it leads to
- Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- Romans 11:33
Where this verse is studied
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 on the Book of Job; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXXV; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Olympiodorus of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON JOB 42:1-3 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.