Job 36 22

Job 36:22 kjv

Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Job 36:22 nkjv

"Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?

Job 36:22 niv

"God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

Job 36:22 esv

Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

Job 36:22 nlt

"Look, God is all-powerful.
Who is a teacher like him?

Job 36 verses

Job 36 22 Meaning

Job 36:22 declares God's incomparable greatness and unique role as an instructor. It posits that God actively demonstrates His supreme power and that no other being can teach with His authority, wisdom, or effectiveness. Elihu uses this statement to impress upon Job the profound majesty of God and the instructive purposes behind His dealings with humanity, even through challenging circumstances.

Job 36 22 Context

Job 36:22 is part of Elihu's third discourse (chapters 36-37). Elihu steps forward as a younger, perhaps more impetuous, but also more doctrinally aligned, voice attempting to clarify God's nature and dealings to Job and his three older friends. Earlier, Elihu asserted God's justice, power, and attentiveness to humanity, arguing against the simplistic cause-and-effect retribution theology of Job's friends and Job's own perception of being unjustly afflicted.

Specifically, in chapter 36, Elihu emphasizes God's majesty and the wise, often pedagogical, purposes behind His actions. He has spoken of how God uses suffering not always for punishment, but sometimes for discipline and instruction, to draw people away from evil and teach them His ways (Job 36:8-12). He has also recounted God's grand control over natural phenomena like rain, lightning, and storms (Job 36:24-33), underscoring divine power. Verse 22 acts as a summit statement in this context: given God's overwhelming power, as demonstrated in both His moral governance and His command of nature, His teaching authority is supreme and beyond question. It serves as a direct challenge for Job to recognize the divine teacher in his afflictions and to respond with humble receptivity, rather than complaint or challenge.

Job 36 22 Word analysis

• Behold (הֵן - hen): This is an interjection, drawing emphatic attention to what follows. It signifies a profound truth or an important declaration, akin to "Look!" or "Indeed!" It demands the listener's focus on God's unique character.

• God (אֵל - ’Ēl): A foundational Hebrew term for deity. While sometimes used generally, in this monotheistic context, it refers to the one true God, the creator and sustainer of all. It carries connotations of strength, power, and leadership. Its choice emphasizes God's inherent divine nature, distinct from all created beings.

• is exalted (יַשְׂגִּיא - yasgiy’): This is the Hiphil imperfect of the verb שָׂגָה (sagah), meaning "to grow, to be great, to be exalted." The Hiphil stem indicates a causative or declarative action: God "makes Himself great," or "causes His greatness to be manifest." It is not just that God is great, but He actively shows His greatness, often through His mighty deeds and display of power, particularly in His control over the natural world as Elihu details in the surrounding verses. It denotes an active, visible display of divine supremacy.

• *in his power (בְּכֹחוֹ - bəkoḥō): This phrase specifies the medium through which God is exalted. The preposition בְּ (be) means "in, with, by." כֹּחַ (koakh) denotes strength, power, might, vigor, or ability. The possessive suffix -וֹ (-ō) refers to "His." Therefore, God's exaltation is intrinsic to and manifested by His inherent omnipotent strength. It is not an acquired status but an innate attribute continuously displayed.

• who is (מִי - mī): This is an interrogative pronoun meaning "who?" It functions as a rhetorical question, anticipating the unequivocal answer: "no one." It powerfully underscores the uniqueness and incomparability of God.

• a teacher (מוֹרֶה - mōreh): Derived from the verb יָרָה (yarah), meaning "to cast, to shoot, to instruct, to teach." The mōreh is literally "one who shoots forth" instruction, like an arrow or rain (a metaphor found elsewhere for divine teaching). It implies direct, authoritative, and often effectual instruction. God's teaching is not merely imparting information, but shaping understanding, imparting wisdom, and guiding action, even through disciplinary measures and natural phenomena. It speaks of divine pedagogy, a sovereign, active revelation of truth and principles.

• like him (כָמֹהוּ - kāmōhū): The preposition כְּ (ke) means "like" or "as," followed by the personal pronoun הוּא (hūʾ), "him." This unequivocally stresses God's singular status. There is no comparable entity, no one with similar authority, wisdom, or capacity to instruct humanity on such a comprehensive and profound scale. This assertion highlights God's absolute uniqueness in both power and wisdom.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, God is exalted in his power": This clause sets the tone by calling attention to God's inherent majesty. The active "is exalted" implies a dynamic demonstration of divine power rather than a static state. It emphasizes God's sovereign self-revelation through His might. His power is not dormant but actively displays His greatness, a prelude to His role as instructor.

• "who is a teacher like him?": This rhetorical question highlights the unparalleled nature of God's wisdom and His capacity to instruct. It brings together God's supreme power (as established in the first part of the verse) and His unique pedagogical role. Because God is infinitely powerful and sovereign, His instruction is the ultimate, authoritative, and transformative wisdom, surpassing any human or created source of teaching. It implies that understanding His ways, even in adversity, is the pathway to true wisdom.

Job 36 22 Bonus section

• Elihu, as a younger speaker, emphasizes God's awesome majesty to bring a corrective perspective to the weary theological debates of Job and his friends. He asserts that humanity's proper stance before such a God is one of humility and learning.
• The concept of God as "teacher" (moreh) links to the prophetic tradition, where prophets were sent to instruct Israel in God's ways (e.g., Is 30:20-21, though the ultimate Teacher is God Himself). It implies a direct, divinely sanctioned imparting of knowledge.
• In ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, kings or wise men were considered teachers. Elihu here elevates God as the ultimate king and sage, whose wisdom and instructional capability far exceed any earthly authority.
• The instruction provided by God often includes spiritual discernment regarding right and wrong, understanding the meaning of life, and comprehending the divine purposes behind suffering and prosperity, as is a central theme throughout the book of Job.

Job 36 22 Commentary

Job 36:22 is a foundational declaration within Elihu's attempt to elevate Job's perception of God beyond a simplistic view of retribution. Elihu aims to shift the focus from God's perceived accountability to Job, towards God's unquestionable majesty and supreme authority. The verse asserts God's active exaltation of Himself through His power, a power not just for judgment, but for all His purposes, including instruction. The rhetorical question, "who is a teacher like him?" solidifies God's unparalleled wisdom. This is not a human teacher, constrained by limited knowledge or authority, but the Creator whose every action—from mighty storms to personal trials—carries divine instruction. For Elihu, God's wisdom is not only vast but also actively imparted to humanity. This teaching often comes through unexpected means, like suffering or the magnificent displays of creation. The message for Job is clear: instead of questioning, look for the lesson; God's sovereign power is inherently connected to His wisdom, making Him the ultimate and perfect instructor. Understanding this allows one to accept His methods and grow through them.