Job 34 32

Job 34:32 kjv

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Job 34:32 nkjv

Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'?

Job 34:32 niv

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.'

Job 34:32 esv

teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

Job 34:32 nlt

Or 'I don't know what evil I have done ? tell me.
If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?

Job 34 verses

Job 34 32 Meaning

Job 34:32 is presented by Elihu as the ideal attitude a suffering person, particularly Job, should express before God. It embodies a posture of humble teachability and a commitment to genuine repentance. The first part, "What I see not, teach thou me," reflects an admission of human ignorance and a humble desire for divine illumination and instruction regarding any unseen or unacknowledged faults. The second part, "if I have done iniquity, I will do no more," signifies a profound willingness to identify with potential wrongdoing and a firm resolution to cease from any discovered sin. Elihu implies that this humble and repentant spirit is what Job lacks and what is necessary for true reconciliation and understanding of God's ways.

Job 34 32 Context

(h2)Context

Elihu's discourse (Job chapters 32-37) is positioned between the arguments of Job's three friends and God's direct intervention. Elihu, a younger man, claims to have waited patiently for the older men to speak, but, finding their arguments lacking, he now takes the floor. His main objective in Chapter 34 is to assert God's perfect justice and sovereignty, countering Job's complaints and assertions of innocence. Elihu believes Job has impugned God's character by suggesting God would pervert justice or that serving God offers no advantage. Verse 32 is a summary statement by Elihu, presenting the ideal response Elihu believes Job should make to God's dealings. It's Elihu putting words in Job's mouth, implying that this is the kind of humble admission and promise of reform that God expects and that Job, in Elihu's view, has thus far failed to offer. The verse underscores the importance of teachability and a genuine turning away from wrongdoing in the face of divine discipline or hidden sin. The broader historical and cultural context of the Book of Job emphasizes the patriarch's close relationship with God, the importance of integrity, and the community's understanding of divine retribution and justice in human affairs.

Job 34 32 Word analysis

(h2)Word analysis

• What I see not (מַה שֶּׁלֹּא-חָזִיתִי - mah shelo'-chazithi):

  • chazithi (חָזִיתִי) is from chazah (חזה), meaning "to see, perceive, behold, have a vision."
  • This phrase indicates an acknowledgment of spiritual blindness, a lack of perception, or ignorance regarding one's own faults or God's purposes.
  • It expresses humility, recognizing that human understanding is limited and that there may be unseen areas of wrongdoing or misunderstood divine actions.

• teach thou me (לַמְּדֵנִי - lammedenī):

  • From the verb lamad (למד), meaning "to learn" or "to teach."
  • This is an imperative, a direct and humble plea for divine instruction.
  • It signifies a complete reliance on God as the ultimate source of truth and correction, desiring to be educated by Him.

• if I have done iniquity (אִם-עָוֶל עָשִׂיתִי - ’im-‘āwel ‘āśīthi):

  • ’im (אִם) means "if," introducing a hypothetical condition, demonstrating openness to correction rather than certainty of innocence.
  • ‘āwel (עָוֶל) means "injustice, iniquity, wrongdoing, perversity." It refers to an act of moral crookedness or deviation from what is right.
  • ‘āśīthi (עָשִׂיתִי) is from ‘asah (עָשׂה), "to do, make, act."
  • This phrase represents a willingness to confront and admit sin, even if one is not currently aware of it, placing oneself open to God's revelation of fault.

• I will do no more (לֹא אֹסִיף - lō’ ōsip):

  • lō’ (לֹא) is "no" or "not."
  • ōsip (אֹסִיף) is from yāsaph (יָסַף), meaning "to add, increase, do again."
  • The complete phrase signifies a firm resolution to cease, to not repeat, or to actively turn away from any discovered wrongdoing.
  • This is the concrete commitment aspect of repentance, demonstrating a change of will and action.

(ul)

• "What I see not, teach thou me": This segment encapsulates the spiritual posture of humility and receptivity. It's an acknowledgement of human fallibility and the necessity of divine illumination to truly see one's hidden faults or understand God's complex dealings. It expresses a desire for revelation beyond mere human perception or self-reflection.
• "if I have done iniquity, I will do no more": This pairing reveals the true essence of repentance. The conditional admission ("if I have done") paired with the decisive commitment ("I will do no more") demonstrates a heart genuinely willing to acknowledge wrong and effect a complete change of behavior. It’s a proactive embrace of God’s standard and a rejection of a life of continued sin.

Job 34 32 Bonus section

(h2)Bonus sectionElihu's words here, while delivered with a degree of judgmental assumption concerning Job, nonetheless express a profound truth applicable to all seeking righteousness. It prefigures Job's ultimate response to God (Job 42:3, 6), where Job himself states, "I uttered what I did not understand," and repents. The very spirit of this verse—humility, desire for divine teaching, and commitment to cease from wrong—is the desired outcome of all God's disciplinary actions, proving His redemptive purpose even in suffering. Elihu is essentially offering a paradigm for how one should approach God during trials, acknowledging human limitations and affirming God's wisdom and righteousness above all else. This verse reminds us that growth in faith necessitates continuous learning from God and decisive action to align our lives with His revealed will.

Job 34 32 Commentary

(h2)CommentaryJob 34:32 is Elihu's articulation of what genuine contrition and a receptive spirit look like before God. While Job had largely protested his innocence, Elihu insists on the need for self-examination and a readiness to change. The verse describes an ideal person who, regardless of how righteous they perceive themselves, acknowledges their limited understanding and actively seeks God's guidance for areas of unseen fault. Upon receiving such divine teaching, this person resolves to decisively turn away from any wrongdoing uncovered. This model of teachability combined with a resolute commitment to abandon sin is fundamental to biblical repentance and demonstrates a heart truly desiring to align with God's will rather than merely justify itself. It moves beyond passive acknowledgment to active reformation. This principle is applicable to all believers, prompting self-reflection and openness to God's convicting and corrective work in one's life.