Job 27 11

Job 27:11 kjv

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Job 27:11 nkjv

"I will teach you about the hand of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

Job 27:11 niv

"I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.

Job 27:11 esv

I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

Job 27:11 nlt

I will teach you about God's power.
I will not conceal anything concerning the Almighty.

Job 27 verses

Job 27 11 Meaning

In Job 27:11, Job declares his intention to instruct his friends, who had been his accusers, concerning the actions and nature of God. Despite his intense suffering and the accusations leveled against him, Job asserts that he will not withhold or conceal the truth of what he has learned and understands about the Almighty's ways, particularly regarding divine justice and the ultimate fate of both the righteous and the wicked. This statement marks a pivotal moment where Job, having endured the failed theological arguments of his friends, now offers to teach them the profound truths of God's sovereign power and inscrutable wisdom, turning the dynamic of their conversation on its head.

Job 27 11 Context

h2Job 27 is a significant part of Job's final extended monologue (chapters 27-31). This particular chapter immediately follows the discourse among Job and his three friends. The friends have ceased their arguments, effectively admitting defeat, yet they have failed to acknowledge Job's innocence or grasp the true nature of his suffering. Job takes the stage again, solemnly affirming his blamelessness before God (vv. 2-6) and emphasizing the stark reality of the wicked's fate (vv. 7-10), a theme his friends often distorted. Verse 11, therefore, serves as Job's audacious offer to "teach" his so-called wise friends, presenting himself as the one who genuinely understands God's ways and divine justice, in direct contrast to their erroneous theology which maintained that suffering was always a direct punishment for sin. He sets the stage to declare profound truths about God that his friends, locked in their conventional wisdom, had overlooked.

Job 27 11 Word analysis

h2

• "I will teach you" (אוֹרֶה, 'oreh): This is from the root yarah (יָרָה), which means "to instruct," "to teach," or "to cast forth" (like casting lots or pointing a way). It carries the sense of showing the way or guiding, as if imparting fundamental knowledge or pointing out truth. In this context, it implies Job is assuming the role of the teacher, rather than the student or the one being rebuked, directly challenging the perceived wisdom and authority of his friends. It's a statement of conviction and a promise to reveal insights they have missed.
• "about the hand of God" (יַד-אֵל, yad-'el):
  • "hand" (yad): In Hebrew, "hand" is a rich metaphor often symbolizing power, strength, activity, direction, or instrumentality. It refers not to a literal limb, but to the divine influence, effective power, or operational force of God in the world. It encompasses God's actions, whether in creation, provision, judgment, or blessing.
  • "God" (El): A generic, ancient Semitic term for deity, often used to emphasize God's might, power, and superiority. When used with "hand," it denotes the active, potent force of the ultimate divine being. Job is declaring he will instruct them on God's active, powerful dealings with humanity. This includes divine judgment but also other forms of divine intervention.
• "what is with the Almighty" (אֲשֶׁר עִם-שַׁדַּי, 'asher 'im-Shaddai):
  • "what is with" ('asher 'im): Implies "what belongs to," "what originates from," "what resides with," or "what concerns" the Almighty. It speaks of divine attributes, purposes, decisions, and established ways.
  • "Almighty" (Shaddai): The name El Shaddai, typically translated "God Almighty," is very significant in Job. Shaddai often conveys the idea of God's all-sufficiency, overwhelming power, and sovereignty, especially in the context of His judgment and His relationship with His covenant people. It can also evoke a sense of God as the nourisher, sustainer, or even the powerful mountain, highlighting His unyielding nature. Job is appealing to the highest aspect of God's power and comprehensive control over all things, affirming his understanding of God's full scope.
• "I will not conceal" (לֹא אֲכַחֵד, lo' 'akhaded): From the root kakhad (כָּחַד), meaning "to hide," "to secret," "to deny," or "to hold back." Job vows to be completely transparent. He is saying he will not obscure, omit, or misrepresent the truth about God's ways, implying that his friends might have done so, whether intentionally or through ignorance. This demonstrates his commitment to divine truth even amidst his profound suffering.
• "the hand of God" / "what is with the Almighty": These two phrases are parallel, both pointing to God's nature and actions. They emphasize that Job is not talking about mere philosophy but about the observable and knowable (though mysterious) operations of the sovereign God in the world, particularly in matters of justice and fate. Job is contrasting his holistic understanding with the partial and flawed doctrines of his friends. He is referring to divine wisdom, truth, and judgments that unfold through time.

Job 27 11 Bonus section

h2

• The Irony of the Situation: This verse presents a powerful reversal of roles. Job's friends came to "comfort" and, in their view, "instruct" Job regarding his supposed sin. Here, Job declares his intention to teach them, implying that his understanding of God's profound ways surpasses their rigid theological framework.
• Job's Confidence Amidst Crisis: Despite being in unimaginable physical and emotional agony, abandoned by many, and accused by his closest friends, Job maintains a strong, unwavering conviction about God and is confident in his ability to articulate divine truths. This speaks to the resilience of true faith tested in the furnace of affliction.
• Critique of Conventional Wisdom: Job's assertion here implicitly critiques the superficial and overly simplistic "conventional wisdom" of his friends, which rigidly tied suffering directly to sin and prosperity directly to righteousness. He suggests that their wisdom falls short of truly comprehending God's complex and often mysterious governance.
• Preparation for a Deeper Revelation: This declaration prepares the audience for a more profound discourse on divine wisdom, which Job delivers in Job 28, separating true wisdom (fear of the Lord) from human efforts to acquire knowledge. His willingness to not "conceal" anticipates his candid and detailed expression of his own righteous life in chapters 29-31.

Job 27 11 Commentary

h2Job 27:11 serves as Job's assertive re-claiming of intellectual and spiritual authority within the dialogue. After being subjected to rounds of theological condemnation by his friends, Job now reverses the roles, confidently declaring his intent to teach them about God's ways, specifically concerning the divine attributes and justice they have clearly misunderstood. He pledges unwavering transparency, assuring that he will not obscure or misrepresent any truth about the Almighty's character or actions, unlike their rigid, flawed doctrines. This verse signals Job's deeper, experiential grasp of God's dealings, refined through suffering, which contrasts sharply with the friends' purely theoretical and incomplete understanding of how God governs the world and punishes the wicked. It foreshadows Job's upcoming profound declaration regarding true wisdom in chapter 28 and sets the stage for God's ultimate vindication of Job's integrity. For instance, Job effectively says: "You accused me of sin based on your understanding of God's hand; I will show you how His hand truly works concerning the righteous and the wicked, and it's not what you think."