Job 11 6

Job 11:6 kjv

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Job 11:6 nkjv

That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.

Job 11:6 niv

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

Job 11:6 esv

and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

Job 11:6 nlt

If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom is not a simple matter.
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you
far less than you deserve!

Job 11 verses

Job 11 6 Meaning

Job 11:6 is a statement from Zophar the Naamatite to Job, asserting that God's wisdom holds profound secrets, far exceeding human comprehension or what is readily apparent. He then claims that God, in His dealings with Job, has been lenient, exacting less punishment than Job's iniquity truly deserves, implying a measure of divine mercy despite Job's intense suffering.

Job 11 6 Context

Job chapter 11 records Zophar's first discourse with Job. Unlike Eliphaz and Bildad, who attempted more subtle theological arguments, Zophar is more blunt and dogmatic. He views Job's protests of innocence as foolish talk and demands that God himself respond. Zophar holds firmly to the traditional wisdom of his time: great suffering must be the result of great sin. He implies Job is speaking blasphemy and has committed hidden sins, arguing that God's justice is perfect and exact, and that if Job only repented, his prosperity would return. This verse is central to Zophar's argument that Job does not understand God's complex ways, particularly how His justice, even when it involves suffering, is inherently merciful and often less than deserved.

Job 11 6 Word analysis

• And that he would shew thee: This refers to God revealing His deep truths to Job. It implies Job's need for greater divine insight into God's ways, rather than presuming to know why he suffers.
• the secrets (סוֹד - sōḏ): Refers to intimate counsel, private deliberation, or hidden knowledge. This is knowledge not easily accessible, deeply held, or perhaps only known by a select few. In this context, it pertains to the mysterious, unsearchable depths of God's being and ways.
• of wisdom (חָכְמָה - ḥoḵmâ): Divine sagacity, insight, skill, and right application of knowledge. It denotes God's perfect and complete understanding, both moral and practical, in governing the universe and dealing with humanity.
• that they are double (כִּפְלַיִם - kippəlayim) to that which is!: The Hebrew kippəlayim literally means "double," "twofold." Here, it signifies a vast increase, an immense quantity or intensity beyond measure, implying God's wisdom is profoundly complex and immeasurably greater than what Job or any human can perceive or conceive. It suggests an abundance of truth or a depth of mystery that is far more than is obvious or even imaginable. It implies that what God reveals or what is apparent about His wisdom is but a fraction of its true extent.
• Know therefore that God exacteth (יִשֶּׁה - yisheh - Hiphel form of נָשָׁה nasha): The verb means "to make to forget" or, in a legal sense, "to cause to exact/collect," hence, to demand payment or tribute. Here, it implies God's right to demand an accounting for sin and to inflict punishment. Zophar uses it to suggest that God is mercifully not fully "collecting" on Job's debt of sin.
• of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth: This is Zophar's direct accusation and central point: despite Job's intense suffering, God has actually been merciful. He posits that Job's unconfessed or unknown sins are far greater than his present punishment. This assertion aligns with the retributive theology prevalent among Job's friends.

Words-Group analysis

• "the secrets of wisdom": This phrase speaks to the profound depth and inscrutability of God's divine wisdom. It implies that there are aspects of God's ways, His purposes, and His very being that are hidden from human understanding, mysteries that humanity cannot fully plumb or comprehend.
• "double to that which is!": This vivid expression emphasizes the incomprehensible magnitude and complexity of God's wisdom. It signifies that God's knowledge and His ways are not merely vast, but exponentially more intricate and profound than any human could perceive from their limited perspective or experience. It implies a concealed reality far exceeding what is apparent.
• "God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth": This declares Zophar's core belief about Job's suffering. It's a statement that combines theological truth about God's mercy (He does not always punish to the full extent of sin) with a misapplication of this truth to Job, falsely assuming Job's suffering is due to egregious sin and is actually a lighter sentence.

Job 11 6 Bonus section

• Zophar's speech reflects the rigid doctrine of retribution common among Job's friends: suffering equals sin, and prosperity equals righteousness. While he acknowledges God's wisdom and a measure of divine leniency, he fundamentally misjudges Job's blamelessness and God's true purposes in Job's trial.
• The phrase "double to that which is" might also imply that the true "secrets" are twofold in nature – both immensely powerful and intricately profound, or perhaps both hidden yet paradoxically revealed in some aspect, though not fully comprehended.
• This verse foreshadows later divine revelation within the book of Job, where God himself speaks and humbles Job, confirming Job's inability to fully comprehend divine wisdom, but also refuting the friends' oversimplified theology regarding suffering and sin.
• The concept of God exacting "less than thine iniquity deserveth" is a recurrent biblical theme emphasizing God's patience and long-suffering, evident even in the midst of discipline or judgment, showcasing His compassionate character despite human failings.

Job 11 6 Commentary

Zophar, one of Job's three friends, vehemently argues for God's incomprehensible wisdom and strict justice, implying that Job is suffering less than he truly deserves. Zophar asserts that God's "secrets of wisdom" are far more profound than Job can grasp, meaning God's ways are intricate and beyond human understanding. He uses the metaphor of "double" to suggest an immense depth and complexity in God's wisdom that surpasses any human perception. In Zophar's view, Job's intense suffering is actually a testament to God's mercy, as a fully just retribution for Job's hidden sins would be far worse. While Zophar's understanding of God's supreme wisdom and tempered justice contains elements of truth (God does not always punish according to our full iniquity), his specific application to Job is flawed. He misattributes Job's suffering solely to sin and lacks compassion, failing to understand that God's purposes in allowing suffering are not always punitive, nor does suffering always reflect the measure of one's sinfulness. This passage highlights the tension between absolute divine justice and God's compassionate nature, alongside the limits of human knowledge regarding God's complex will.