Job 35 11

Job 35:11 kjv

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Job 35:11 nkjv

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?'

Job 35:11 niv

who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?'

Job 35:11 esv

who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'

Job 35:11 nlt

Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals
and wiser than the birds of the sky?'

Job 35 verses

Job 35 11 Meaning

Job 35:11 states that God endows humanity with a unique capacity for understanding and wisdom, elevating them far above the purely instinctual existence of animals. This divine gift enables humans to discern God's principles, His just dealings, and the purpose behind their experiences, including suffering. It signifies humanity's distinct potential for moral and spiritual comprehension.

Job 35 11 Context

Job 35:11 is spoken by Elihu during his discourse (chapters 32-37) as he critiques Job and his three friends. Elihu argues that God is not silent or indifferent to human suffering, nor does He act arbitrarily. He contends that Job, in his deep affliction and frustration, has failed to understand God's greater purposes. In this specific verse, Elihu challenges Job's perception that God has neglected him by pointing to a fundamental truth: God has endowed humanity with a unique intellectual and spiritual capacity that sets them apart from the animal kingdom. This implies that humans have the means to understand divine ways, including the educational or corrective nature of suffering (a theme Elihu heavily emphasizes). Elihu believes Job has not fully utilized this divine gift of wisdom and has instead complained bitterly without seeking to discern God's hand or purpose. This statement builds the foundation for God's majestic self-revelation in later chapters, where God Himself highlights the distinction between His wisdom and the limited understanding of humanity.

Job 35 11 Word analysis

• He teaches us: (יַאֲלְּפֵנוּ - ya'al'p̄ênū) Derived from the Hebrew verb אָלַף (ʾālap̄), meaning "to teach," "to learn," "to accustom," or "to guide." This signifies a deliberate, active imparting of knowledge and understanding from God to humanity. It's more than just providing information; it implies training and familiarization with divine principles and spiritual realities. It underscores God's active engagement and not a distant disinterest.
• more than: (מִן - min) This preposition indicates comparison and distinction, highlighting the elevated status and unique cognitive and spiritual capacity of human beings when compared to animals.
• the beasts: (בַּהֲמ֣וֹת - bahămōṯ) Refers broadly to quadrupeds or land animals. These creatures are primarily driven by instinct, physical needs, and immediate environmental stimuli, lacking the capacity for moral reasoning, abstract thought, or spiritual discernment.
• of the earth: (אֶ֑רֶץ - ʾereṣ) Specifies the natural habitat of these animals, emphasizing their grounded, material existence in contrast to humanity's potential for transcendence and divine understanding.
• and makes us wiser than: (וּמֵע֖וֹף - ūmêʿôp̄, implying "wiser than") While a direct verb meaning "makes wiser" is not explicitly present in the Hebrew here, the construction in parallelism with "He teaches us" strongly conveys this sense. Elihu's argument hinges on the idea that humanity's intellect and understanding are divinely superior. The context implies that the result of God's teaching is greater wisdom.
• the birds: (הַשָּׁמָֽיִם - haššāmāyim) Refers to birds, inhabitants of the sky. Like beasts, they operate primarily on instinct—migrating, building nests, finding food—without conscious moral deliberation or capacity to grasp divine revelation. Their inclusion, alongside "beasts of the earth," forms a comprehensive representation of the animal kingdom.
• of the air: (עוֹף - ʿôp̄) This specifies their domain as the "air" or "heavens," completing the picture of animal life, both land-dwelling and aerial.

Words-group analysis:

• "He teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air": This masterful parallelism forms the core of Elihu's argument. It establishes a profound distinction between human beings and the entire animal kingdom based on humanity's divinely endowed capacity for wisdom and understanding. Animals function purely by instinct and biological drives; they do not have moral agency or the capacity for spiritual or abstract reasoning about their existence or about God. Humanity, however, is presented as capable of receiving direct instruction and wisdom from God. This distinction carries an implicit responsibility: since humans are gifted with superior intellect and spiritual potential, they are expected to use these gifts to discern God's ways, His justice, and His purpose in life's circumstances, rather than succumbing to mere instinctual complaint or despair. This profound truth highlights humanity's unique dignity and calling.

Job 35 11 Bonus section

• Elihu's perspective serves as a crucial theological bridge within the Book of Job, preparing for the voice of God himself. While Job and his friends debate about the reason for suffering (sin vs. innocence), Elihu introduces the concept of suffering as discipline or a means of instruction (Job 33:14-30), which requires wisdom to discern.
• The unique human capacity for wisdom mentioned here implicitly points to the Imago Dei (Image of God), a concept central to humanity's creation in Gen 1:26-27. Being made in God's image gives humans the rational, moral, and spiritual faculties that allow for true instruction and relationship with their Creator, distinguishing them from the rest of creation.
• The teaching mentioned is not passive information, but an active, ongoing process of revealing truth. It signifies that humanity has no excuse for ignorance of God's ways, given this divine endowment. If humans choose to live without understanding or reflecting upon God's truth, they demean the unique wisdom God has given them.

Job 35 11 Commentary

Job 35:11 encapsulates Elihu's profound insight into the human condition and God's interaction with it. He asserts that God has bestowed upon humanity an intellectual and spiritual capacity that utterly surpasses the instinct-driven existence of animals. This divine teaching is not merely about survival skills but enables humans to grasp moral truth, discern divine order, and understand God's deeper purposes, even within suffering. Unlike animals, which do not contemplate God's actions or question their fate, humans are equipped to recognize God's sovereignty and wisdom. Elihu uses this truth to challenge Job: if God has given humans such a distinct capacity for understanding, then Job ought to have sought spiritual wisdom and discerned God's purposes in his suffering, rather than lamenting God's perceived absence or injustice. The verse underscores that God is an active, engaged teacher who empowers humanity with the unique ability to know and relate to Him on a higher level.