Job 36 5

Job 36:5 kjv

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

Job 36:5 nkjv

"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Job 36:5 niv

"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

Job 36:5 esv

"Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.

Job 36:5 nlt

"God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
He is mighty in both power and understanding.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 5 Meaning

Job 36:5 declares God's immense power, stating that despite His might, He does not disdain or disregard anyone. It further clarifies that His power is fundamentally rooted in His profound and limitless understanding, ensuring His actions are always guided by perfect wisdom.

Job 36 5 Context

Job 36 is part of Elihu's discourses (chapters 32-37) to Job and his three friends. Elihu steps forward to present what he believes is a more accurate understanding of God and suffering. He asserts that both Job, who lamented God's justice, and the friends, who held to a rigid doctrine of retribution, have misunderstood God's character and purposes. In this chapter, Elihu shifts from reprimanding Job to focusing on the greatness of God. He describes God's attributes, arguing that suffering can be disciplinary or instructive, rather than purely punitive. Job 36:5 specifically lays the foundation for Elihu's argument by emphasizing God's omnipotent power, His justice (not despising), and His boundless wisdom, contrasting with Job's feeling of being overlooked or unfairly treated.

Job 36 5 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnêh): An exclamation drawing immediate attention to a crucial truth about to be revealed. It signals a weighty declaration.
• God (אֵל - El): A foundational Hebrew term for deity, often employed to denote God's strength and supreme authority, establishing Him as the ultimate power.
• mighty (כַּבִּיר - kabbîr): Conveys immense power, greatness, and abundance. It signifies a display of overwhelming strength and effectiveness.
• but (וְ - we): This conjunction "and" acts here as an adversative, introducing a contrasting or qualifying truth. It balances God's might with another attribute.
• despises (לֹא יִמְאָס - lo' yim'ās): Formed by "not" (לֹא - lo') and "to reject, scorn, disdain" (מָאַס - ma'as). It asserts that God does not hold anyone in contempt or disregard them, especially those who are lowly or suffering.
• no one (אִישׁ - 'îsh): Literally "man," but used universally here to mean "anyone" or "no one." It implies God's non-condescending nature extends to all humanity.
• He is mighty (כַּבִּיר - kabbîr): Repetition for strong emphasis, affirming God's enduring and pervasive power. It reinforces that His strength is constant and permeates His nature.
• in strength (כֹּחַ - koach): Denotes inner power, vigor, or capability. Here, it indicates the potent and active nature of God's understanding, suggesting His intellect is dynamic.
• of understanding (לֵבָב - lēbāb): Literally "heart," but in ancient Hebrew thought, "heart" is the seat of intellect, will, and moral judgment. Therefore, it signifies divine discernment, insight, and wisdom.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, God is mighty": This opening sets forth God's sovereign power as an undeniable and central attribute, the very bedrock of Elihu's theology.
• "but despises no one": This crucial qualification directly addresses Job's cries of feeling ignored or crushed. Despite God's awesome power, He is not indifferent, disdainful, or dismissive of any human being. This underscores God's justice and His meticulous care for individuals.
• "He is mighty in strength of understanding": This phrase explains how God's might is exercised. His power is not raw or arbitrary force but is infused with perfect knowledge and discernment. His omnipotence is guided by His omniscience, ensuring that all His actions are purposeful, just, and wise, never stemming from caprice or contempt.

Job 36 5 Bonus section

Elihu's profound statement about God's non-despising nature and mighty understanding finds resonance throughout the broader biblical narrative. The concept that God does not disdain any person foreshadows New Testament revelations of God's impartial love (Acts 10:34) and Christ's valuing of every soul. Similarly, God being "mighty in strength of understanding" points to His unsearchable wisdom and foreknowledge, which governs His entire providential plan. This implies that even what appears as random adversity to humanity is orchestrated with purpose by a perfectly understanding divine mind. The verse powerfully encapsulates God's dual nature as transcendent in power yet immanently attentive, demonstrating that His might is not a distant, impersonal force, but one precisely directed by infinite intelligence and unwavering righteousness.

Job 36 5 Commentary

Job 36:5, spoken by Elihu, presents a sophisticated understanding of God that reconciles His ultimate power with His perfect justice and wisdom. It corrects the flawed perceptions of both Job, who felt forgotten, and his friends, who narrowly confined God's justice to direct retribution. Elihu proclaims that God, though possessing boundless might, does not overlook or scorn anyone, particularly those in humility or suffering. This isn't weakness but an expression of His profound character. His strength is inextricably linked to His understanding, meaning His actions are never impulsive but always guided by perfect knowledge and infinite wisdom. This holistic view reassures that God's ways, even when inscrutable to humans, are ultimately wise, purposeful, and just, revealing a compassionate sovereignty that engages intimately with all His creation.