Job 37 20

Job 37:20 kjv

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

Job 37:20 nkjv

Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.

Job 37:20 niv

Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

Job 37:20 esv

Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

Job 37:20 nlt

Should God be notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?

Job 37 verses

Job 37 20 Meaning

Job 37:20 is a rhetorical question posed by Elihu to Job, implying that humans are utterly incapable of instructing or advising God. It asserts the futility and danger of a human speaking to or presuming to contend with the Almighty. The verse underscores God's unfathomable greatness and power, suggesting that any attempt by a human to question or instruct Him would result in being utterly overwhelmed, silenced, or destroyed, figuratively and perhaps literally. It highlights human frailty and insignificance in the face of divine majesty.

Job 37 20 Context

Job 37:20 concludes Elihu's extended discourse to Job and his three friends. Throughout chapters 32-37, Elihu has presented his own unique perspective on God's justice, power, and Job's suffering. Unlike the earlier friends, Elihu emphasizes God's majesty and wisdom not merely as a consequence of Job's sin, but as a vast, incomprehensible reality that demands reverence. He prepares the ground for God's imminent appearance from the whirlwind in chapter 38, arguing that humans cannot fully grasp God's ways or speak presumptuously about His dealings.

In the verses immediately preceding Job 37:20, Elihu describes God's power manifest in natural phenomena—thunder, lightning, rain, and snow—showcasing God's absolute control over creation and His mysterious working. Elihu asks rhetorical questions about humanity's understanding of these things, establishing humanity's intellectual and physical weakness compared to God's might (Job 37:15-19). Job 37:20 then becomes the logical culmination of this argument: if we cannot even understand His natural workings, how dare we propose to teach or challenge Him directly? The historical and cultural context reflects an Ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine power linked to meteorological phenomena. Elihu, in a monotheistic framework, highlights the unique, absolute sovereignty of the one true God, contrasting human speech and reason with God's supreme authority, indirectly challenging any humanistic hubris.

Job 37 20 Word analysis

• Shall it be told (הַיְסֻפַּר - Hay-yu-par) Him (לוֹ - lo):

  • הַיְסֻפַּר (Hay-yu-par): Derived from the Hebrew root sapar, meaning "to count," "to relate," "to tell." The passive form "will it be recounted/told" highlights the utter impossibility of such an act. The implication is that God is omniscient; He knows everything without needing to be informed or advised by humans. The question emphasizes the presumption in thinking one could "tell" God anything He doesn't already know, especially something as presumptuous as a human wanting to contend with Him. It borders on insolence.
  • לוֹ (lo): "to Him" - referring explicitly to God. The divine pronoun choice reinforces the vast qualitative difference between the speaker (Job, or any human) and the recipient (God).

• that I would speak (כִּי אֲדַבֵּר - ki a-dab-bêr):

  • אֲדַבֵּר (a-dab-bêr): From dabar, "to speak, utter, declare." Here, it refers to Job's desire or intention to speak in his own defense or to present his case against God's actions. The term encompasses a range of speech from complaining to arguing or formal pleading. Elihu views such a desire as presumptuous and foolish when directed toward God.

• If a man (אִם אָמַר אִישׁ - im a-mar ish) speak (אָמַר - amar):

  • אִם (im): "If" - introduces a conditional statement, setting up a hypothetical but highly probable scenario in Elihu's view.
  • אָמַר (amar): "to say, speak." While similar to dabar, amar often conveys a more definite statement or decree. The choice here suggests a direct utterance, a firm stand or declaration by a human.
  • אִישׁ (ish): "a man, a human being." This general term emphasizes that this truth applies to all humanity, not just Job. It stresses human limitations in contrast to God's infinity. The focus is on the weakness and finite nature of "man" trying to engage with the infinite.

• surely he shall be swallowed up (כִּי יְבֻלָּע - ki yĕ-bul-lā'):

  • כִּי (ki): "surely, for, indeed" - an emphatic particle underscoring the certainty of the consequence.
  • יְבֻלָּע (yĕ-bul-lā'): From the Hebrew root bala', meaning "to swallow, devour, consume, overwhelm, destroy, confuse." This verb in the Pual imperfect passive carries a powerful sense of being utterly consumed, annihilated, or rendered nonexistent, without any active resistance possible. It signifies being completely overcome and silenced. This is not merely a cessation of speech but a complete overwhelming, a dissolution of being or purpose. The image evokes destruction so absolute that one ceases to exist as a challenge. It speaks to divine wrath or simply the overwhelming nature of God's presence and holiness.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Shall it be told Him that I would speak?": This rhetorical question highlights the absolute incongruity and absurdity of a mortal even contemplating informing the omniscient God of their desire to speak. It questions Job's profound misunderstanding of God's nature.
  • "If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.": This declaration serves as a grave warning and a statement of consequence. It presents the unavoidable outcome of human presumption in contending with the Almighty. The phrase emphasizes the sheer crushing power of God's majesty against any human opposition, leading to utter silence and dissolution rather than a successful argument. It contrasts human finite, fragile existence with God's overwhelming, infinite nature.

Job 37 20 Bonus section

Elihu's role in the book of Job is often seen as a pivotal transition, bridging the judgmental arguments of the three friends and the direct appearance of God Himself. Job 37:20 effectively prepares Job—and the reader—for the direct divine encounter. Elihu's consistent message focuses on God's overwhelming power, wisdom, and justice as something beyond human scrutiny and comprehension, shifting the narrative away from a direct correlation between sin and suffering (as the friends argued) to a broader, more mysterious view of God's sovereignty. The imagery of being "swallowed up" captures the sense of ultimate vulnerability before God, echoing other biblical instances where a challenge to God leads to immediate and complete judgment. It reinforces that humility and awe, not debate, are the proper human responses to the living God.

Job 37 20 Commentary

Job 37:20 is the climax of Elihu's argument, serving as a solemn warning against the futility and danger of challenging God. Elihu underscores that any human attempt to "tell" God something or to contend with His infinite wisdom is not only unnecessary due to God's omniscience but also fraught with peril. The phrase "swallowed up" dramatically conveys utter defeat, complete silencing, and potential destruction. This isn't just about losing an argument; it's about being entirely overwhelmed and disappearing in the presence of God's incomprehensible majesty and power. Elihu's words here foreshadow God's appearance from the whirlwind, where He Himself directly confronts Job, echoing Elihu's warning about human limitations and ignorance when faced with divine omnipotence (Job 38-41). The verse emphasizes that true wisdom begins with recognizing and reverencing God's unchallenged authority, power, and unknowable ways, rather than seeking to reason or argue with Him. It reminds believers of the need for humility and submission before the Sovereign Creator.