Job 36 23

Job 36:23 kjv

Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Job 36:23 nkjv

Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?

Job 36:23 niv

Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, 'You have done wrong'?

Job 36:23 esv

Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?

Job 36:23 nlt

No one can tell him what to do,
or say to him, 'You have done wrong.'

Job 36 verses

Job 36 23 Meaning

Job 36:23 asserts God's absolute and unquestionable sovereignty. Elihu declares that no created being has the authority or knowledge to dictate God's actions or to accuse Him of wrongdoing. God operates independently of human counsel and cannot be justly faulted for His ways, affirming His supreme authority, perfect wisdom, and inherent righteousness. His judgment is flawless, and His path is His own.

Job 36 23 Context

Job 36:23 is spoken by Elihu, the youngest of Job's counselors, near the climax of the book of Job, just before God's own direct address to Job. In chapters 32-37, Elihu presents a series of arguments intended to correct both Job and the three friends. Unlike the friends, Elihu doesn't directly accuse Job of specific sins causing his suffering, but rather critiques Job's tendency to vindicate himself and, implicitly, to accuse God of injustice. Elihu seeks to elevate God's majesty, wisdom, and justice. Chapter 36 specifically details God's greatness, power, and sovereign control over creation (like weather patterns) as evidence of His unquestionable wisdom and justice. This verse serves as a rhetorical climax in Elihu's discourse, directly challenging Job's complaints that God has dealt unjustly with him by questioning who could ever instruct God or declare Him wrong. It prepares the theological groundwork for God's eventual appearance, underscoring humanity's proper stance of humility and submission before the Creator.

Job 36 23 Word analysis

• Who (מִי - mi): This is a rhetorical question in Hebrew, implying "no one." It strongly emphasizes the unique, unrivaled position of God. It's a challenge to human presumption.

• has prescribed / appointed (פָקַד - paqad): The verb carries a wide range of meanings including "to visit," "to inspect," "to muster," "to commission," "to appoint," "to oversee." Here, it signifies the act of ordering, directing, or assigning a path or duty. Elihu questions who could possibly possess the authority or knowledge to set out God's course of action or supervise Him. It directly attacks the idea that God is accountable to humans.

• His way (דַּרְכּוֹ - darko): Refers to God's course of action, His plan, His character, or His method of operating. It implies His moral conduct and His providential administration of the world. No one defines or judges God's established path.

• or who (וּמִי - u-mi): Connects the two rhetorical questions, reinforcing the rhetorical force. Again, "and no one."

• can say (אָמַר - amar): The simple act of speaking, but here it implies having the moral authority or rightful judgment to utter such a statement. It questions who is worthy to pass judgment on God.

• You have done / wrought (פָּעַלְתָּ - pa'alta): Indicates the act or accomplishment. It refers directly to God's deeds.

• wrong / injustice (עַוְלָה - avlah): Denotes iniquity, perversity, unrighteousness, or injustice. It implies moral corruption or a deviation from what is right. The verse strongly refutes any such accusation against God.

• "Who has prescribed His way for Him": This phrase challenges the notion that any entity, divine or human, dictates God's course. It asserts God's absolute aseity and independence; He is not beholden to any law or authority outside of Himself. His existence and actions are entirely self-originated.

• "or who can say, 'You have done wrong'": This phrase directly addresses the moral perfection of God. It is a powerful polemic against any accusation of injustice or imperfection toward God, especially those that arose from Job's lamentations. It posits God as intrinsically righteous, beyond reproach, and utterly without flaw in His dealings.

Job 36 23 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates the theological concept of Divine Aseity, meaning God is utterly independent and self-existent, not derived from anything else. He doesn't receive instruction, counsel, or correction from external sources, because there are no sources superior to Him. Elihu's arguments, culminating in this verse, aim to recalibrate Job's perspective from self-pity and legalistic disputation towards reverent submission. This serves as a significant lead-in to God's own voice from the whirlwind in Job 38-41, where God uses rhetorical questions about creation to similarly humble Job, but in a far more direct and awe-inspiring manner. Elihu's message prepares Job, and us, for the reality that true wisdom begins with recognizing God's unassailable majesty.

Job 36 23 Commentary

Job 36:23, spoken by Elihu, is a foundational statement about the absolute sovereignty and moral impeccability of God. It emphatically declares that God is accountable to no one, neither instructed by nor subjected to the judgment of any created being. This verse counters the human tendency, particularly evident in Job's lamentations, to question God's justice based on limited understanding of divine ways. Elihu's rhetoric serves to elevate God far beyond human comprehension and critique, affirming that His actions are intrinsically just and His wisdom supreme. This understanding demands humility from humanity, acknowledging that we lack the knowledge, authority, or moral standing to find fault with the Almighty. The truth expressed here lays groundwork for true faith: trust in God even when His ways are beyond our full understanding.