Job 36 10

Job 36:10 kjv

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Job 36:10 nkjv

He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.

Job 36:10 niv

He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.

Job 36:10 esv

He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.

Job 36:10 nlt

He gets their attention
and commands that they turn from evil.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 10 Meaning

Job 36:10 reveals God's benevolent work in addressing humanity, particularly those under affliction. It asserts a divine act of enablement, where God actively opens a person's "ear" – signifying their understanding and capacity for reception – to "instruction," which encompasses moral discipline, wisdom, and correction. This opening of the ear is directly followed by a divine "command" or directive that they "return from iniquity." This implies that God's aim in granting understanding is to lead individuals away from their sin and wrongful ways, underscoring His desire for repentance and righteousness even through challenging circumstances.

Job 36 10 Context

Job 36:10 is spoken by Elihu, who, having just entered the dialogue, attempts to present a more balanced view of God's ways than Job's three friends. Throughout chapters 32-37, Elihu explains God's justice, sovereignty, and instructional methods. He argues that suffering is not always punitive for specific sins, but often a tool of divine education and refinement. In chapter 36, Elihu emphasizes God's majesty and righteous governance. He suggests that God often uses affliction (as in Job's case) to draw people's attention, open their spiritual senses, and prompt them to introspection and repentance. Elihu asserts that if the afflicted humble themselves and heed God's warning, they can be restored and blessed. This verse specifically articulates God's proactive intervention in an individual's life through tribulation to bring about a saving change of heart and behavior.

Job 36 10 Word analysis

• He opens also their ear: This refers to God's initiative. The Hebrew verb is poteach (פותח), a Hiphil participle, signifying a causative action – God causes their ear to open. This "ear" (ozen - אוזן) metaphorically represents the faculty of understanding, willingness to listen, and spiritual receptivity. It implies an act of divine grace, enabling individuals to perceive truths they otherwise would not or could not. In the broader Biblical context, spiritual deafness is a pervasive human condition, and God's intervention is often required for true hearing and understanding (e.g., Isa 6:10). This contrasts with the human tendency towards obstinacy and refusal to hear.
• to instruction: The Hebrew term is musar (מוּסָר). This is a rich word in wisdom literature, especially Proverbs. It encompasses discipline, correction, moral instruction, admonition, and even chastening. It is not merely information, but guidance intended to shape character and behavior. God does not just convey facts; He applies correction that leads to practical change. This 'instruction' is for their spiritual benefit, guiding them towards paths of righteousness and wisdom.
• and commands: The Hebrew is vayo'mer (וַיֹּאמֶר), meaning "and He says" or "He commands." This highlights the authoritative and declarative nature of God's communication. It's not a mere suggestion but a divine imperative. The phrase can also imply a strong persuasion or revelation that carries the weight of a command, compelling the individual to a course of action.
• that they return: The verb is yeshuvun (יָשֻׁבוּן), a form of shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to repent." This signifies a change of direction, a turning away from a previous path. In a moral and spiritual sense, it denotes repentance – a decisive turning from sin towards God. This "return" is the divinely intended outcome of the opened ear and the instruction given.
• from iniquity: The Hebrew word is 'avon (עָוֹן), which means wickedness, perversity, guilt, or iniquity. It's often associated with the twisted or perverse nature of sin, carrying a sense of resultant trouble or punishment. The command to "return from iniquity" means to cease from and turn away from sinful thoughts, deeds, and the very condition of sinfulness that leads to distress and separation from God. God desires not just outward compliance but a genuine inward turning from the root of wrong.

Job 36 10 Bonus section

The concept of God "opening the ear" resonates throughout the prophetic books, where spiritual deafness and blindness are often presented as conditions requiring divine intervention for true understanding. This opening is an act of sovereign grace, enabling spiritual perception. Without it, humanity remains unable to grasp divine instruction, no matter how clearly presented. Furthermore, the progression from receptivity (opened ear) to instruction (musar) to command (turning from iniquity) illustrates the active and purposive nature of God's redemptive work. He does not merely reveal, but also enables and calls for a transformative response. This sequence highlights the synergy between divine enablement and human responsibility; while God enables, He also commands a choice for change. This stands in stark contrast to passive religiosity, demanding an active turning.

Job 36 10 Commentary

Job 36:10 articulates Elihu's profound insight into God's methods of divine pedagogy. It describes a two-pronged divine action: first, an inward, gracious act of making receptive, "opening the ear to instruction," and second, an outward, authoritative declaration, "and commands that they return from iniquity." This portrays God not as a punitive tyrant but as an active and redemptive agent. Affliction, according to Elihu, serves as a powerful means through which God breaks through human resistance and self-deception, allowing spiritual truth to penetrate. Once receptive, the divine imperative follows: repentance. This is not a mere intellectual acknowledgment but a practical turning away from a life of 'avon (iniquity) – that twisted state of unrighteousness. Thus, God's goal through both His mysterious dealings and His clear word is always restoration and a renewed walk in righteousness. It highlights that true repentance is often enabled by God's grace and guided by His authoritative voice. For instance, consider someone facing significant loss; this might "open their ear" to spiritual truths they previously ignored, leading them to turn away from a life of self-reliance or pride. Or a challenging health diagnosis can be a form of "instruction" prompting a "return from iniquity" for a person absorbed in worldly pursuits.