Job 36 4

Job 36:4 kjv

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Job 36:4 nkjv

For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

Job 36:4 niv

Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

Job 36:4 esv

For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

Job 36:4 nlt

I am telling you nothing but the truth,
for I am a man of great knowledge.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 4 Meaning

Job 36:4 is Elihu's emphatic assertion of the truthfulness and divine source of his discourse. He declares that his words are absolutely reliable and that he speaks with "perfect knowledge," implying an understanding of God's ways that is comprehensive and without error. This verse positions Elihu as a spokesperson for profound, divine wisdom, contrasting his insights with the limited and mistaken viewpoints of Job and his friends.

Job 36 4 Context

Job chapter 36 is part of Elihu's extensive discourse, which spans from chapter 32 through 37. Elihu, a younger man, has patiently listened to Job and his three friends but is now highly critical of all their arguments. He presents himself as someone speaking "on God's behalf" (Job 36:2). In the broader context of the book, Elihu serves as a transition point between the failed human reasoning of Job's friends (and Job's own limited perspective) and the direct divine revelation that begins in Job 38. This specific verse (36:4) serves as Elihu's bold opening claim to authority and perfect insight, validating all the arguments he is about to make concerning God's justice, power, and sovereign wisdom in suffering. He aims to correct Job's complaints and the friends' flawed theology, emphasizing God's transcendence and His perfect purposes in all things.

Job 36 4 Word analysis

• For truly (כִּי־אֱמֶת, kī-ʾĕmet):
  • Word: The conjunction kī (כִּי) here emphasizes cause or explanation ("for"), and ʾĕmet (אֱמֶת) signifies truth, certainty, faithfulness, or firmness.
  • Significance: Elihu is underscoring the absolute verity and reliability of what he is about to say. It is not mere opinion but grounded in unwavering truth. This stresses a divine rather than human origin or authentication of his message.
• my words (מִלָּי, millāy):
  • Word: The singular millah (מִלָּה) typically means "word" or "speech." The suffix "-āy" makes it "my words."
  • Significance: Elihu is not referring to casual conversation but to his formal, weighty utterances, which he presents as possessing a prophetic or authoritative quality. He claims special insight that lends unusual gravitas to his discourse.
• are not false; (לֹא־שֶׁקֶר, lōʾ-šeqer):
  • Word: lōʾ (לֹא) is the negative particle "not." šeqer (שֶׁקֶר) means "falsehood," "deception," "lie."
  • Significance: This is a strong double negative, effectively meaning "absolutely true" or "certainly not lying." It is an emphatic denial of error or deceit, asserting complete accuracy. It contrasts sharply with the flawed words of Job and his friends, whom Elihu sees as mistaken or misrepresenting God.
• one who is perfect (תְּמִים, tāmîm):
  • Word: tāmîm (תָּמִים) conveys completeness, integrity, blamelessness, soundness, or perfection. It is used for physical perfection (e.g., in sacrifices) or moral perfection (e.g., "blameless" Job in Job 1:1). Here, it refers to a quality of knowledge.
  • Significance: Elihu implies a holistic and entire grasp of the subject, lacking no part of necessary understanding. This is a rare claim for a human, aligning him with divine attributes or agency.
• in knowledge (דֵּעָה, dēʿāh):
  • Word: dēʿāh (דֵּעָה) means "knowledge," "understanding," "discernment." It often refers to a deep, experiential, or relational knowing, rather than mere intellectual facts.
  • Significance: Elihu possesses not just information, but deep, integrated insight into God's character and workings, particularly regarding suffering and divine justice. This suggests an understanding derived from divine wisdom.
• is with you. (עִמָּךְ, ʿimmāḵ):
  • Word: ʿim (עִם) means "with" or "beside," and māḵ (מָךְ) is the suffix for "you" (singular masculine, referring to Job).
  • Significance: This can be interpreted in a few ways, all leading to Elihu asserting authority.
    1. Impersonal Truth: "One who possesses perfect knowledge is present." This emphasizes the nature of the speaker's wisdom rather than his person.
    2. Elihu as the One: "I who have perfect knowledge am with you." This is Elihu directly asserting himself as the source.
    3. God's Agent: "One with perfect knowledge (God or His wisdom) is operating through me while I am with you." This highlights the divine presence and inspiration Elihu claims, making his words carry God's authority. He claims to deliver divine insights rather than human speculation.

Job 36 4 Bonus section

Elihu’s claim of "perfect knowledge" stands in significant tension with human limitation often emphasized in Scripture (e.g., Job 28, Prov 3:5-6, Isa 55:8-9). While Elihu accurately asserts many true aspects of God's character, his claim functions as a dramatic literary device to heighten the anticipation for God’s own appearance and ultimate answer. He, like Job and his friends, must ultimately yield to the unsearchable depths of God's wisdom, as God Himself reveals (Job 38:2). This verse demonstrates the ongoing biblical theme that true understanding comes from God and is communicated by Him.

Job 36 4 Commentary

Job 36:4 serves as Elihu's powerful declaration of infallibility concerning his ensuing theological discourse. He presents himself not merely as another human voice, but as a vessel of "perfect knowledge," directly asserting the non-falsehood of his words. This bold claim sets him apart from Job's friends, whose human reasonings proved limited and failed to provide solace or true understanding. Elihu implies that his insights come from a divine wellspring, contrasting with Job's perceived lack of reverent knowledge about God's ways (as Elihu interprets it). His subsequent teachings will delve into God's sovereign power, His perfect justice, and His use of affliction for instructive and redemptive purposes. While Elihu provides valuable truths about God, his own human interpretation and self-assertion also contain a subtle hint of arrogance, which prepares the reader for the ultimate, more complete, and humble revelation directly from God in chapters 38-42, demonstrating that truly perfect knowledge belongs solely to God.