Job 35 8

Job 35:8 kjv

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

Job 35:8 nkjv

Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.

Job 35:8 niv

Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.

Job 35:8 esv

Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.

Job 35:8 nlt

No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.

Job 35 verses

Job 35 8 Meaning

Job 35:8 declares that human wickedness affects only other human beings, not God Himself. Similarly, human righteousness benefits other people and does not add anything to God. Elihu states that God's being, glory, and self-sufficiency are beyond human ability to augment or diminish. Our actions have consequences primarily within the human sphere.

Job 35 8 Context

Job 35:8 is part of Elihu's third discourse (Job 35:1-16) to Job and his three friends. Elihu is attempting to correct Job's assertion that there is no advantage in serving God or that God does not take notice of human actions, whether good or bad (Job 34:9). Elihu argues that Job's reasoning, which seems to imply that God ought to act to justify Himself or demonstrate His profit from human righteousness, is fundamentally flawed. He seeks to highlight God's transcendence and sovereignty, asserting that God is infinitely superior to humanity and therefore beyond being affected by human deeds in terms of His own being or essential happiness. While Job perceives God as indifferent, Elihu clarifies that God is just and does see all, but His motivation is not self-interest. Elihu points out that the consequences of sin and the benefits of righteousness largely remain within the human realm, impacting human-to-human relationships and societal well-being. This reorients Job's focus from what God owes humanity to humanity's responsibility towards God and each other.

Job 35 8 Word analysis

• Your wickedness (רִשְׁעֲךָ - rish'akha):
  • your wickedness: Refers to sin, iniquity, or injustice committed by a person.
  • Significance: It implies an intentional act against divine or moral law. Elihu specifically attributes this to Job to counter Job's complaints of unprofitability.
• affects only a man like yourself (אִישׁ כָּמוֹךָ - 'ish ka'mokha):
  • affects: The Hebrew lacks an explicit verb here, implying "to be upon," "to come to," or "to harm." The effect is directly personal.
  • only: The force of exclusion "only" is inherent in the grammatical construction emphasizing direct recipient.
  • a man: (אִישׁ - 'ish) General term for a human being, male or female.
  • like yourself: (כָּמוֹךָ - ka'mokha) This phrase underscores the human, relatable nature of the impact. The wickedness's consequence falls on another person, mirroring the perpetrator's own humanity.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes that the immediate, tangible consequence of wickedness falls within the human realm. It does not touch God's unassailable being.
• and your righteousness (וְצִדְקָתְךָ - ve'tzidkatekha):
  • and: Connects the two parallel clauses.
  • your righteousness: (צִדְקָתְךָ - tzidkatekha) This refers to moral integrity, uprightness, or adherence to divine standards.
  • Significance: Juxtaposed with wickedness, it addresses the other side of human conduct, showing both aspects share a similar sphere of impact.
• benefits only a son of man (וּלְבֶן־אָדָם - u'le-ven-'adam):
  • benefits: Again, implied meaning "is to," or "is upon."
  • only: Implicit in the structure, similar to the first clause.
  • a son of man: (בֶן־אָדָם - ben-'adam) A common Hebrew idiom for "human being," similar to "man." It reinforces the universal human experience.
  • Significance: The benefit derived from righteousness is for other humans, building up community or helping individuals. It does not contribute to God's inherent perfection or needs.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Your wickedness... and your righteousness": This parallelism highlights that both negative and positive human actions are considered. Elihu addresses the full scope of human moral choices.
  • "affects only a man like yourself... benefits only a son of man": This repetition and phrasing emphatically limit the direct impact of human actions to the horizontal, human-to-human sphere. It's a corrective against any notion that human actions add to or detract from God's intrinsic blessedness or sovereignty. Elihu combats the idea that God's motivations for judging are anthropomorphic (like a human ruler who benefits from his subjects' actions). God is not dependent on humanity in any way.

Job 35 8 Bonus section

Elihu's statement in Job 35:8 functions as a polemic against common ancient Near Eastern pagan beliefs, where deities were often depicted as having human-like needs and desires, susceptible to flattery, offerings, or neglect. Such gods might starve if not fed, or become weak if not appeased. Elihu contrasts this by asserting the utterly self-sufficient nature of Yahweh. The Hebrew concept of God reveals a Deity who is complete in Himself, requiring nothing from humanity. Therefore, divine justice and response to sin are based on His perfect righteousness, not on His vulnerability or dependence on human behavior. This theological principle lays a foundation for understanding salvation by grace, where God acts from His own nature and love, not because of anything humanity could provide to earn His favor. The focus shifts from transactional service to relational reverence rooted in God's immutable character.

Job 35 8 Commentary

Job 35:8 forms a pivotal point in Elihu's argument against Job's understanding of God's justice. Elihu clarifies a profound theological truth: God is self-sufficient and transcendent, existing infinitely above His creation. Our sin cannot diminish His glory or existence, and our righteousness cannot enhance Him or provide Him with anything He lacks. God's moral perfection is inherent and unchangeable, independent of human behavior. While God undoubtedly responds to human actions (rewarding righteousness and judging wickedness), He does so out of His immutable character and justice, not because our actions cause Him loss or gain. The consequences of our moral choices predominantly manifest in the human realm: wickedness causes harm to others and brings societal breakdown, while righteousness fosters good relationships, communal well-being, and ultimately benefits humanity. This verse redirects the focus from human benefit to God to human responsibility for humanity, emphasizing that our actions bear real weight and consequence for those around us, and for ourselves. This helps reconcile the paradox of divine sovereignty and human moral accountability.