Job 21 22

Job 21:22 kjv

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Job 21:22 nkjv

"Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?

Job 21:22 niv

"Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

Job 21:22 esv

Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?

Job 21:22 nlt

"But who can teach a lesson to God,
since he judges even the most powerful?

Job 21 verses

Job 21 22 Meaning

Job 21:22 is a rhetorical question posed by Job, asserting the profound and unchallengeable sovereignty of God. It directly questions whether any created being, no matter how wise or exalted, could possibly instruct God or impart knowledge to Him, considering His supreme position as Judge over even "those on high"—be they celestial beings, mighty earthly rulers, or any exalted entity. This verse underscores God's absolute omniscience and omnipotence, declaring Him beyond human comprehension and counsel.

Job 21 22 Context

Job 21:22 appears within Job's third response to his friends, specifically challenging Zophar of Naama. Throughout Job, the friends adhere to a rigid retribution theology, arguing that God justly punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. Job 21 is a powerful counter-argument where Job cites numerous examples of the wicked prospering, dying peacefully, and leaving behind flourishing offspring, seemingly contradicting the friends' neat theological framework. This particular verse, Job 21:22, functions as a rhetorical climax within Job's argument. He asserts God's absolute transcendence and unchallengeable wisdom by asking a question that demands a resounding "No." His point is that since God is supremely sovereign, judging even the most powerful spiritual beings ("those on high"), then surely He does not require instruction from frail humanity. This reinforces Job's struggle to understand God's ways not as an accusation, but as an admission of human limitations in comprehending divine actions, especially when God's ways defy conventional human logic regarding justice. The historical context reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding where powerful entities (gods, divine councils, or mighty rulers) were often seen as formidable, yet Job proclaims a God who utterly transcends them all.

Job 21 22 Word analysis

• Will any / Ha-el (הֲלֶאֵל): Composed of ha- (the interrogative particle "Is it possible? / Will...?"), and 'el (אֵל), a common Hebrew word for "God." The interrogative particle strongly conveys rhetorical incredulity; it implies an absolute "no" as the expected answer. It signifies the absurdity of the very notion being proposed.
• teach / yelammad (יְלַמֶּד): From the root lamad (לָמַד), meaning "to teach, instruct, learn." In this context, it implies an act of imparting knowledge or giving advice from a position of assumed superiority or greater understanding. The very idea of humans teaching the Creator highlights humanity's pride or ignorance.
• God / 'el (אֵל): Used here, it denotes the Supreme Being, the ultimate Creator and Sovereign. Its presence reiterates that the subject of attempted instruction is none other than the Omniscient One.
• knowledge / da'at (דַּעַת): From the root yada (יָדַע), meaning "to know, understand." Da'at refers to factual understanding, insight, or wisdom. The question challenges the idea that limited human "knowledge" could somehow augment God's infinite, inherent knowledge.
• since / v'hu (וְהוּא): Literally "and He" (וְ is "and", הוּא is "He"). In this context, "and He" functions as a conjunction that introduces the reason or basis for the preceding statement, often translated as "since," "for," or "because He." It introduces the foundational truth supporting the rhetorical question.
• He judges / yishpot (יִשְׁפּוֹט): From the root shaphat (שָׁפַט), meaning "to judge, rule, govern, decide." It points to God's role as the supreme authority and arbiter, one who exercises ultimate jurisdiction and righteousness. This includes passing sentence and administering justice.
• those on high / ramim (רָמִים): Plural form of ram (רָם), meaning "high, exalted, lifted up." This is a critical term. It can refer to:
  • Celestial beings/heavenly hosts: Often interpreted as angels or other powerful spiritual entities, sometimes even a divine council, which are presented as subject to God in Job and elsewhere in the Old Testament (e.g., Psa 89:7).
  • Mighty earthly rulers or potentates: Kings, empires, or any highly elevated human authority. However, given Job's cosmic focus, the celestial interpretation often holds stronger weight as it better reinforces the unchallengeable transcendence of God.
  • Words-group by words-group analysis:
    • "Will any teach God knowledge?": This phrase directly assaults human arrogance and underscores the logical impossibility of a finite, fallible creation instructing its infinite, perfect Creator. It highlights the vast, unbridgeable gap between human wisdom and divine omniscience.
    • "since He judges those on high": This clause provides the compelling reason and substantiation for the impossibility stated in the first part. If God, with His supreme authority and unblemished justice, sits in judgment over even the most exalted entities in the universe (be they angelic powers or the mightiest of human potentates), then He is clearly beyond needing, or receiving, any form of instruction or counsel from human beings. This affirms God's absolute and unchallenged sovereignty.

Job 21 22 Bonus section

Job's use of a rhetorical question here is a powerful literary device. It not only conveys his point emphatically but also invites the listener/reader to immediately acknowledge the truth without needing an explicit answer. This echoes similar rhetorical questions found throughout the Bible, emphasizing God's transcendence and challenging human arrogance (e.g., Isa 40:13-14; Rom 9:20). The concept of God judging "those on high" has parallels with the notion of a "divine council" found in ancient Near Eastern literature, including some biblical texts (e.g., Psa 82:1; Job 1:6). In these contexts, God is portrayed as the ultimate Judge even over celestial beings or "gods." Job here firmly places God above any lesser pantheon or exalted creature, reinforcing monotheism and His absolute dominion over all. This concept reinforces that no created being, no matter how elevated or powerful, stands outside of God's sovereign authority and scrutiny.

Job 21 22 Commentary

Job 21:22 serves as a pivotal theological statement within Job's passionate discourse, challenging the shallow theology of his friends and reasserting the magnificent, inscrutable nature of God. The rhetorical question exposes the absurdity of humanity's attempt to counsel or impart wisdom to the Almighty. It is a profound declaration of God's absolute omniscience and sovereignty, rendering Him beyond the grasp and manipulation of finite minds.

Job's friends posited a universe where divine justice was perfectly transparent and immediately executable based on human understanding. Job, by contrast, suggests that God's wisdom and judicial actions operate on a level far transcending human comprehension. "Those on high" can be understood as powerful, exalted beings or forces in the spiritual realm (like angels or powers and principalities) or the mightiest of human rulers. Regardless, the point remains: God judges, governs, and exercises ultimate authority over all such exalted entities. If God's dominion extends to these highest realms, His ways cannot be circumscribed or instructed by fallible human understanding.

This verse humbles humanity, calling us to awe rather than argument before the Creator. It teaches that God is not bound by human logic or predictable patterns, especially when it comes to the complex tapestry of justice and suffering. Instead, God operates by a wisdom that is deep, vast, and incomprehensible to limited human minds. It shifts the perspective from human-centered retribution to God-centered sovereignty, hinting at the mystery that would be further explored when God Himself finally speaks. The practical usage suggests that when facing difficult, incomprehensible situations, believers should respond with trust in God's perfect, though often hidden, wisdom rather than presuming to dictate to Him or critique His governance.