Job 33:17 kjv
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
Job 33:17 nkjv
In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
Job 33:17 niv
to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
Job 33:17 esv
that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;
Job 33:17 nlt
He makes them turn from doing wrong;
he keeps them from pride.
Job 33 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction... | Warning against pride leading to downfall. |
| Jas 4:6 | ...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | God's stance against human pride. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | ...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another... | Exhortation to humility, aligning with God's will. |
| Dan 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven... he is able to humble those who walk in pride. | God humbling the proud for their good. |
| Isa 2:11 | The haughty looks of man shall be brought low... God alone will be exalted. | Prophetic promise of God abasing human pride. |
| Psa 18:27 | For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring low. | God's deliverance of humble and judgment of proud. |
| 2 Chr 32:26 | Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart... | Example of divine intervention leading to humility and protection. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | God redirecting human plans. |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | God's sovereign control over human endeavors. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. | God's wisdom and path surpass human wisdom. |
| Jer 10:23 | I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself... | Acknowledgment of human inability to direct their steps without God. |
| Heb 12:6 | For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. | God's corrective discipline for good. |
| Psa 119:67 | Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. | Affliction (or divine warning) leading to righteousness. |
| Psa 119:71 | It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. | Value of hardship in learning God's ways. |
| Gen 20:6 | Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me." | God revealing His hand to prevent sin (context of dreams). |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams..." | Promise of God's Spirit enabling divine communication through dreams/visions. |
| Acts 2:17 | "‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;'" | Fulfillment of Joel's prophecy on Pentecost regarding divine communication. |
| 1 Kgs 3:5 | At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night... | Example of God communicating important direction in a dream. |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Call to humility over selfish work/ambition. |
| Pro 21:30 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. | Underscores futility of human plans in opposition to God's will. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick... I the LORD search the heart... | God's perfect knowledge of the heart and motives. |
Job 33 verses
Job 33 17 Meaning
Elihu, speaking on behalf of God, explains that divine communication, often through dreams or visions as described in the preceding verses, serves a specific, protective purpose. This intervention is designed to deter humanity from their self-serving endeavors or misguided paths and to safeguard them from developing or acting upon pride. It signifies God's loving intervention to preserve individuals from spiritual and moral ruin caused by self-will and arrogance.
Job 33 17 Context
Job 33:17 is part of Elihu's first discourse (Job 32-37) where he interrupts the silent exchange between Job and his three friends. Elihu claims to speak with divine wisdom, aiming to correct both Job's self-justification and his friends' flawed theology. Specifically, in Job 33, Elihu outlines ways in which God communicates with humanity. He posits that God speaks through various means (v. 14), including visions in the night, deep sleep, and dreams (vv. 15-16). Verse 17 then directly states the benevolent purpose of these divine warnings and interventions: to keep humans from their own destructive path and from the dangers of pride. This explanation presents God not merely as a punisher but as a loving, active revealer who seeks to guide and redeem, contrasting with the friends' strict retribution theology and Job's perceived abandonment.
Job 33 17 Word analysis
- that He: Refers unequivocally to God, the sovereign initiator of divine communication, previously mentioned as "God speaks" (v. 14) and "in a dream, in a vision of the night" (v. 15). This highlights God's proactive nature in revealing Himself.
- may withdraw: Hebrew: יָסוּר (yasur), derived from the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to depart," "to remove," "to cause to cease." This is an act of intervention and redirection. It implies halting a course of action rather than simply taking something away. The verb indicates God’s active control to turn a person from a specific path.
- man: Hebrew: אָדָם ('adam), the general term for humanity. This indicates that God’s gracious intervention and warnings are applicable to all people, not just a select few. It signifies God's concern for the general welfare of humanity.
- from his work: Hebrew: מַעֲשֶׂה (ma'aseh), meaning "work," "deed," "doing," "enterprise," "accomplishment," or even "schemes." In this context, it often refers to human plans, actions, or pursuits that are self-initiated and may lead to sin or defiance of God. It's the sum of a person's independent activity, potentially flawed or unrighteous. God intervenes to interrupt this self-reliant and potentially harmful trajectory.
- and conceal: Hebrew: וְיִכְסֶה (weyikhseh), from the root כָּסָה (kasah), meaning "to cover," "to hide," "to clothe," "to protect," or "to restrain." This suggests a protective act of divine grace, shielding man from or preventing the full development/exposure of pride. It is a divine covering that keeps pride from asserting itself.
- pride: Hebrew: גֵּוָה (ge'vah), meaning "loftiness," "arrogance," "haughtiness," "majesty." In human terms, it consistently carries a negative connotation in the Bible, signifying self-exaltation or presumption against God and others. This pride is often the root cause of sin and leads to destruction (Prov 16:18). God's intervention specifically aims to prevent this destructive attitude.
- "that He may withdraw man from his work": This phrase highlights God's intentional interference with human self-direction. "His work" is not necessarily inherently evil but represents any activity or path chosen apart from divine guidance, which can lead to negative consequences or self-exaltation. God halts this independent striving, causing a person to reconsider and cease their own way.
- "and conceal pride from man": This second clause reveals a primary objective of the divine interruption: preventing or hiding the insidious growth of arrogance. God proactively protects humans from succumbing to the temptation of pride, which would separate them further from God and lead to ruin. The concealment acts as a preventative shield, preserving man from this fatal flaw. This implies that even if pride begins to stir, God's intervention keeps it from dominating.
Job 33 17 Bonus section
The passage highlights God's initiative in spiritual revelation. Elihu argues that God actively communicates with individuals for their benefit, not merely in judgment but in grace, often in ways that are quiet or overlooked, such as dreams (as mentioned in preceding verses). This counters any notion of an aloof or disengaged deity. The specific focus on "concealing pride" speaks to a foundational principle in biblical theology: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It underscores that humility is paramount for a right relationship with God and a fulfilled life, and God will even disrupt human plans or activities to cultivate this essential virtue. The divine intervention described can be understood as an act of common grace, protecting even those who may not yet acknowledge God from their own destructive tendencies.
Job 33 17 Commentary
Elihu's explanation of God's purpose in intervening through dreams and visions, as seen in Job 33:17, reframes the understanding of divine interaction with humanity. He asserts that God’s intent is not solely punitive but redemptive and preventative. The warnings and interjections serve as a loving hand, designed to divert individuals from self-chosen paths—referred to as "his work"—that might lead them astray. More profoundly, God's intervention aims to "conceal pride from man." Pride, in biblical thought, is a fundamental human flaw, leading to rebellion against God and ultimately destruction. By preemptively confronting or halting its development, God acts to protect humanity from its own destructive tendencies. This divine act is a display of preventative grace, offering a chance for course correction and fostering humility. It indicates God's continuous concern for individuals, even when they are not seeking Him, preserving them for their ultimate good.