Job 42 4

Job 42:4 kjv

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Job 42:4 nkjv

Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'

Job 42:4 niv

"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'

Job 42:4 esv

'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'

Job 42:4 nlt

You said, 'Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.'

Job 42 verses

Job 42 4 Meaning

Job 42:4 expresses Job's profound transformation from one who debated and challenged God to one who humbly desires to listen and learn. It is Job's repentant response to the Lord's magnificent speeches from the whirlwind, signifying his submission, acknowledgment of his limited understanding, and a new openness to divine revelation. Job takes God's own challenge (from Job 38:3 and 40:7) and, with reverence, asks for the conversation to continue, but with himself in the posture of a disciple seeking to be taught by the Almighty.

Job 42 4 Context

Job 42:4 is Job's culminating response at the end of the Book of Job, following God's two majestic speeches (Job 38:1–39:30; 40:6–41:34). For most of the book, Job had demanded answers from God regarding his intense suffering, asserting his righteousness and even implying injustice on God's part. He longed for a chance to plead his case before the Almighty. However, when God finally speaks, He doesn't directly answer Job's "why" questions but rather challenges Job's understanding of creation, omnipotence, and wisdom, exposing the vast gap between divine and human knowledge.

In this immediate context of Job 42, Job has already confessed his foolishness in verse 3: "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." Verse 4 then marks his profound shift. He's no longer presuming to speak knowledgeably or debate, but humbly adopts God's earlier challenging words, turning them into an invitation for God to continue instructing him. The verse signals Job's intellectual and spiritual surrender, transitioning from arguing to actively seeking deeper understanding directly from God.

Job 42 4 Word analysis

• "Hear" (שְׁמַע - sh'ma):

  • Meaning: Hebrew root denotes not just physical hearing but active listening, comprehension, and often, by extension, obedience.
  • Significance: Job is requesting that God pay attention, which is a significant reversal of his previous demand that God listen to him. This 'hearing' implies Job has now heard God profoundly and is inviting further instruction, not a debate.

• "please" (נָא - na):

  • Meaning: A particle of entreaty, request, or politeness. It softens an imperative or direct statement.
  • Significance: It transforms a command or expectation into a humble, respectful plea, showing Job's submissive and earnest posture.

• "and I will speak" (וַאֲדַבֵּרָה - va'adabberah):

  • Meaning: Literally, "and I will speak."
  • Significance: Job is asking permission to speak, indicating he is no longer speaking from a position of challenge or complaint, but from one of humility and newfound understanding, in light of God's revelations. He speaks as a respondent, not an accuser.

• "I will question you" (אֶשְׁאָלְךָ - esh'alkha):

  • Meaning: From the verb שָׁאַל (sha'al), "to ask," "to inquire," "to question."
  • Significance: This is a direct echo of God's own words in Job 38:3 and 40:7 ("I will question you"). Job, having been interrogated by God, now respectfully turns the structure of the divine challenge back to God. However, the intent has dramatically shifted from demanding answers to seeking further illumination. It’s Job's way of inviting God to continue the discourse.

• "and you make it known to me" (וְהוֹדִיעֵנִי - ve'hodi'eni):

  • Meaning: From the verb יָדַע (yada') in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to cause to know," "to inform," "to instruct," "to teach."
  • Significance: This phrase is the crucial turning point. Previously, God asked Job to "inform" or "make known" to God (Job 40:7), highlighting Job's inadequacy. Now, Job states that God should make known to him. This reflects Job's newfound humility and his earnest desire to gain divine wisdom and understanding, fully acknowledging God's unique authority as the ultimate teacher and revealer of truth.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Hear, please, and I will speak": This phrase dramatically reverses the roles and attitudes established earlier in the book. Throughout his trials, Job often sought for God to hear his pleas and complaints. Here, Job initiates by requesting God to hear, acknowledging God's position as the speaker and instructor. Job's subsequent "I will speak" is not a defiant assertion but a submissive invitation for continued divine discourse, where Job acts as the humbled, willing student. It demonstrates that Job is ready for active, receptive dialogue on God's terms.

• "I will question you, and you make it known to me": This group of words is perhaps the most significant. Job adopts God's own method of interrogation from Job 38:3 and 40:7 ("I will question you, and you shall answer Me / inform Me"). The change, however, lies in the ending. God challenged Job to "inform" or "answer" Him, highlighting Job's inability. But Job, in humility, turns the phrase to "and You make it known to me." This signifies his intellectual surrender and transformation. He is no longer seeking to prove his righteousness or extract an explanation from God but rather yearning to be instructed and illuminated by the Almighty, admitting his profound ignorance and recognizing God as the ultimate source of all truth and knowledge. It’s an acknowledgment that true wisdom comes from divine revelation.

Job 42 4 Bonus section

• The Power of Repetition with Transformation: The deliberate echoing of God's prior challenges (Job 38:3; 40:7) but with Job humbly altering the final clause signifies a transformation deeper than mere verbal agreement. It demonstrates that Job has truly internalised God's message and is no longer challenging divine authority but instead submitting to God's pedagogical method.
• From Hearing About to Direct Knowing: This verse lays the groundwork for Job's subsequent declaration in 42:5, "I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You." Verse 4 is the necessary step of humble willingness to receive before true revelation (seeing/knowing) can occur. It signifies a transition from secondhand knowledge to personal, transformative encounter with God.
• A Model for Seeking Divine Truth: Job 42:4 provides a paradigm for approaching God: with attentiveness, respect, and a desire to be taught, rather than to debate or demand. It illustrates that true wisdom begins with acknowledging God's absolute authority and our own finite limitations, leading us to seek instruction directly from Him.

Job 42 4 Commentary

Job 42:4 encapsulates Job's radical shift from defiant self-vindication to profound humility and submission. After encountering God directly from the whirlwind, Job's perception of his own wisdom collapses. This verse is not Job's renewed demand for answers, but rather a profound act of repentance and receptiveness. By echoing God's previous challenges with an altered final phrase, Job demonstrates that he has truly heard and understood his limited position before the infinite wisdom and power of the Creator. He moves from arguing a case against God to humbly asking for God to continue teaching him. This pivot highlights a key aspect of true spiritual growth: understanding that human understanding is inherently limited, and wisdom ultimately comes from open and humble reception of divine revelation, rather than intellectual pursuit or adversarial questioning. It marks Job’s acceptance of God’s sovereignty and the unknowable aspects of His ways, preferring to know God rather than merely to know His reasons.