Job 34 23

Job 34:23 kjv

For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

Job 34:23 nkjv

For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

Job 34:23 niv

God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment.

Job 34:23 esv

For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

Job 34:23 nlt

We don't set the time
when we will come before God in judgment.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 23 Meaning

Elihu asserts that God, due to His absolute omniscience and supreme sovereignty, does not require extended deliberation, prolonged observation, or a pre-arranged formal legal summons from humanity to make a judgment. He instantly perceives all aspects of human life and character, making His decisions concerning an individual immediate, perfect, and unchallengeable. Therefore, He doesn't need to 'schedule' a formal judicial review with man because His knowledge is already complete and His justice instantaneous.

Job 34 23 Context

Job chapter 34 is part of Elihu's third and longest discourse. Elihu speaks after Job and his three friends have concluded their arguments, with Job continuing to assert his innocence and lamenting what he perceives as God's unjust treatment. Elihu enters the discussion, portraying himself as a mediator and corrective voice for all parties. He addresses Job directly, countering Job's arguments that God is unfair or operates without moral rectitude.

In this chapter, Elihu champions God's absolute righteousness, power, and impartial justice. He declares that God, as the Almighty Creator and Sustainer, is inherently just and can do no wrong (vs. 10-12). He manages the world perfectly without needing human counsel (vs. 13-16), is utterly impartial (vs. 17-19), and brings judgment on the mighty without needing formal inquiry (vs. 20-22). Verse 23 follows this assertion, explaining why God can act so decisively: He does not require extended investigation or a specific appointed time, because His divine knowledge is immediate and comprehensive, encompassing all things without delay or formal process. This directly contrasts with Job's repeated desire to plead his case before God as if in a human courtroom (e.g., Job 13:3; 23:3-5). Elihu argues that God's justice is far beyond such limited human procedures.

Job 34 23 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statements, specifically linking back to Elihu's assertion that God brings down the mighty without further investigation (Job 34:20-22).
• he does not need to / hath not appointed (לֹא־יָשִׂים, lo-yashim):
  • לֹא (lo): The particle of negation, emphasizing that this is something God does not do.
  • יָשִׂים (yashim): From the verb שׂוּם (sum), meaning "to place, set, put, appoint, lay down, apply, give attention." This core verb carries dual meanings here:
    1. God does not set or appoint a time for man to come to judgment. This denies the notion that man can initiate or control the terms of judgment.
    2. God does not apply or give prolonged attention or consideration (i.e., require more data or time for assessment). This highlights His omniscience and instant comprehension.
• consider a man further / on any man again (עַל־אִישׁ עוֹד, al-ish od):
  • עַל־אִישׁ (al-ish): "upon a man" or "concerning a man," specifying the subject of God's scrutiny and judgment. It addresses individual human beings.
  • עוֹד (od): Means "yet, still, again, longer, further, any more." It's a critical intensifier indicating that God has no need for additional consideration, repeated attention, or to set an event again (later). His judgment is comprehensive and conclusive from the start.
• that he should go / to come (לָבוֹא, lavo): This infinitive signifies the purpose or result, indicating that it is the individual man who is to enter God's presence.
• before God (אֶל־אֵל, el-El):
  • אֶל (el): A preposition indicating movement "to" or "towards."
  • אֵל (El): One of the names for God, emphasizing His supreme power and singular divinity. The phrase specifies the ultimate Judge.
• in judgment (בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, bamishpat):
  • בַּ (ba): The prefix for "in" or "for the purpose of."
  • מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat): Meaning "judgment, justice, ordinance, court." It designates the judicial context or the act of judging.

Word-groups analysis:

• "For he does not need to consider a man further" / "For he hath not appointed a time for any man": This phrase directly counters any human misconception that God is bound by human legal processes, needs time to deliberate, or that judgment can be initiated by man. It asserts God's pre-eminent, effortless, and instantaneous grasp of truth.
• "that he should go before God in judgment": This signifies the inevitable confrontation of humanity with God's ultimate authority for evaluation and verdict. It is an act that is at God's discretion, timing, and terms, not man's. It contrasts the human desire to "plead a case" with the divine reality of appearing for divine assessment.

Job 34 23 Bonus section

• The phrasing lo-yashim od is particularly challenging in Hebrew, leading to the various nuanced translations (no further consideration, no appointed time, no setting it again). The underlying truth is consistent: God's judgment is not bound by human conventions of time or evidence.
• This verse contains an implicit polemic against the worldview (present in Job's time and throughout human history) that God can be questioned, challenged, or even put on trial by humans, or that He somehow operates within a human legal framework that man can control or understand.
• The emphasis on "sudden" or "unappointed" judgment here lays a theological groundwork found later in Scripture regarding the unexpected "day of the Lord," or the sudden calling of an individual into eternity. It dismantles the idea of future preparedness that relies on an anticipated delay from God's side.
• God's immediate action, as implied by this verse, reflects His absolute omnipotence; He has the power to execute judgment instantly without preparation or consultation.

Job 34 23 Commentary

Elihu's statement in Job 34:23 is a profound assertion of God's unassailable sovereignty and perfect knowledge in judgment. It clarifies that unlike human judges who must meticulously gather evidence, weigh arguments, and schedule proceedings, God operates without such limitations. His divine omniscience means He already possesses full and immediate understanding of every person's deeds, intentions, and character. He needs no "further" consideration, no extended trial, nor does He set a specific, predetermined "appointed time" that is externally imposed or awaited by man.

This verse refutes two major misunderstandings. First, it directly challenges Job's repeated longing to bring God to court or to argue his case directly before God's judgment seat, as if God needed to hear his defense or clarify His actions. Elihu makes it clear that God is not on trial and doesn't engage in a human-style judicial process with His creation. Second, it highlights that God's judgment, while utterly just, can be immediate and sudden. There is no set future appointment that gives comfort or a false sense of security; rather, any moment can be the moment when one "goes before God in judgment" because God's assessment is perpetually current. This truth underscores humanity's constant accountability and the futility of trying to escape or manipulate God's righteous scrutiny. God judges from His inherent nature, not based on external inputs or human schedules.

• Examples:
  • When an unrepentant person lives their life assuming judgment is far off, this verse reminds them God does not need a future 'appointment'; their life is continually weighed in His present knowledge.
  • When feeling discouraged that justice seems slow, this verse points to God's inherent understanding and timing, which transcends human delay.