Job 34 33

Job 34:33 kjv

Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

Job 34:33 nkjv

Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

Job 34:33 niv

Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.

Job 34:33 esv

Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

Job 34:33 nlt

"Must God tailor his justice to your demands?
But you have rejected him!
The choice is yours, not mine.
Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 33 Meaning

Job 34:33 is part of Elihu's discourse to Job and his friends, where he defends God's absolute righteousness and sovereignty as the ultimate judge. The verse challenges Job's contention that God has treated him unfairly, asserting that God's recompense or judgment is not subject to human approval or rejection. It firmly states that God alone is the supreme arbiter of justice and righteous judgment, independent of human standards or will. Elihu then invites Job to continue presenting his arguments, implicitly acknowledging that despite Job's protests, God's nature and actions remain true.

Job 34 33 Context

Job chapter 34 features Elihu's third discourse. He entered the conversation in chapter 32, asserting his unique insight and aiming to correct both Job's self-righteousness and the other friends' dogmatism. Elihu, younger and seemingly more impatient, addresses Job directly, believing that Job has spoken foolishly and arrogantly against God. This particular verse (34:33) serves as a potent rhetorical question within Elihu's argument. He is attempting to convince Job that God is entirely just in His ways and that human beings cannot dictate terms to the Almighty. The historical and cultural context underscores the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice, where the gods (or God) were perceived as having ultimate authority and demanding respect from humanity. Elihu’s arguments echo common wisdom teachings, asserting God's omnipresence, omniscience, and unchallengeable righteousness as the basis for His dealings with humanity, challenging any human presumption to judge the divine.

Job 34 33 Word analysis

• Should it be according to thy mind? (הֲמִמְּךָ יְשַׁלְּמֶנָּה – ha-mimmeḵā yəšallemennāh?)

  • הֲ (ha-): Interrogative particle, meaning "is it, whether." Implies a challenging question expecting a negative answer.
  • מִמְּךָ (mimmeḵā): "From you," "according to you," "at your hand." This highlights the self-centered nature of the challenge. Elihu questions Job's presumption that God should operate on Job's personal judgment or terms. Significance: This phrase encapsulates Elihu's central point that Job is overstepping his bounds by asserting his standards over God's. It's a critique of anthropocentric views of divine justice.
  • יְשַׁלְּמֶנָּה (yəšalləmennāh): "He will recompense it," "He should repay it." From the root שׁלם (shalem), meaning to make whole, restore, repay, complete. This root carries strong connotations of full and exact payment or restoration, not just vague compensation. Significance: It emphasizes God's perfect and precise execution of justice or consequences, irrespective of human agreement.

• he will recompense it: God is the active agent of justice. The implication is that God's justice operates on His own schedule and principles. Significance: God's sovereign right and ability to act are underscored.

• whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose:

  • תִּמְאָן (tim'ān): "You refuse."
  • תִבְחָר (tivḥār): "You choose," "you accept," "you approve."
  • Significance: These words highlight the utter independence of God's judicial process from human will or preference. God's recompense or judgment is not contingent on Job's, or anyone's, acceptance, approval, or dissent. It reinforces divine sovereignty in judgment.

• and not I: (וְלֹא־אֲנִי – wəlōʾ-ʾǎnī)

  • לֹא (lōʾ): "Not."
  • אֲנִי (ʾǎnī): "I."
  • Significance: Elihu explicitly disavows the role of ultimate judge for himself, humbly but firmly asserting that this role belongs exclusively to God. This helps to underscore Elihu's self-perceived role not as Job's judge, but as God's advocate.

• therefore speak what thou knowest. (וּמַה־יָדַעְתָּ דַבֵּר – ūmah-yādāʿtā dabbēr)

  • יָדַעְתָּ (yādāʿtā): "You know." From the root ידע (yada), to know, to discern.
  • דַבֵּר (dabbēr): "Speak!" (imperative). From the root דבר (davar), to speak, to declare.
  • Significance: This is an invitation and a challenge for Job to articulate his full argument, yet within the undeniable framework of God's unchallenged supreme judgment. It implies: "If you think you know something that overturns God's justice, then speak it, but know God is the true judge." It functions as both a continuation of the debate and a final reminder of who has ultimate authority.

Words-group analysis:

• "Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it": This phrase highlights the human tendency to question divine actions based on limited personal understanding and to impose human standards on God. It forcefully contrasts human judgment with divine recompense, asserting the latter's independence.
• "whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I": This powerfully communicates God's absolute sovereignty in His judicial decrees. It negates any notion that God's actions are contingent upon human approval or consensus, clearly positioning God as the sole ultimate authority and judge, separate from any human participant in the dialogue.

Job 34 33 Bonus section

• The rhetorical structure of Elihu's questions and statements is designed to dismantle Job's arguments by highlighting the sheer absurdity of a creature dictating terms to its Creator. This technique is often seen in prophetic and wisdom literature to expose human arrogance.
• Elihu's perspective here, while not the full divine revelation Job receives later, correctly champions God's attribute as Judge. His focus is on God's omnipotence and absolute righteousness in a way the earlier friends missed, emphasizing that God does not err.
• The concept of God's recompense is fundamental to biblical theology, manifesting in judgment for sin (e.g., the Flood), reward for righteousness (e.g., Abraham), and disciplinary action for growth (Heb 12). Elihu emphasizes its certainty and God's independence in its administration.

Job 34 33 Commentary

Job 34:33 encapsulates Elihu’s core theological argument against Job and, by extension, against any human presumption regarding God’s governance. Elihu’s words underscore the fundamental truth of divine sovereignty: God’s justice is intrinsic to His nature, not a response to or dependent upon human judgment or opinion. When Elihu asks, "Should it be according to thy mind?", he's challenging Job's self-appointed role as an adjudicator of divine justice. Job had, at times, felt God was unjust in His dealings. Elihu rebuts this by affirming God's unfailing ability to "recompense it"—to dispense justice, both reward and consequence, precisely and perfectly. This recompense operates irrespective of human agreement; God neither seeks permission nor is swayed by refusal. The declaration "and not I" further clarifies that no human, not even Elihu himself, has the authority to arbitrate God's decrees. This verse thus champions God’s inherent righteousness, omniscience, and independent authority. The final command, "therefore speak what thou knowest," is a bold challenge. It's not an open invitation to defy God, but a summons to Job to articulate any shred of knowledge he might possess that could overturn God's unchallengeable standard, knowing full well no such knowledge exists. It's a call for Job to present his complete case within the reality of God's unassailable reign, compelling him to realize the futility of human protest against divine perfection.