Job 11 · Verse 6

Job 11:6

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
Job 11:6, King James Version

Job 11:6 in other translations

BSBand disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
WEBthat he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
ASVAnd that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
YLTAnd declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, Some of thine iniquity.
DARBYAnd that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that God passeth by much of thine iniquity!
BBEAnd would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!
WebsterAnd that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thy iniquity deserveth.

What does Job 11:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. to that which is!--Rather, "they are double to [man's] wisdom" [Michaelis]. So the Hebrew is rendered (Pr 2:7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1Co 1:25). exacteth--Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favor much of thy guilt."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 The secrets of wisdom - All the depths of his own counsels; the heights, lengths, and breadths, of holiness. That they are double to that which is, תושיה tushiyah, which we translate that which is, is a word frequent in Job and in the Book of Proverbs, and is one of the evidences brought in favor of Solomon as the author of this book. It signifies substance or essence, and is translated by a great variety of terms; enterprise, completeness, substance, the whole constitution, wisdom, law, sound wisdom, solid complete happiness, solidity of reason and truth, the complete total sum, etc., etc. See Taylor's Hebrew and English Concord., under ישה. In this place the versions are various. Coverdale, following the Vulgate, translates: That he might shewe the (out of his secrite wissdome) how manyfolde his lawe is. The Septuagint, ὁτι διπλους εσται των κατα σε, that it is double to what it is with thee. Mr. Good translates, "For they are intricacies to Iniquity." This is a meaning never before given to תושיה tushiyah, and a meaning which even his own learned note will not make generally prevalent. Perhaps Zophar is here, in mind, comparing the wisdom which has been revealed with the wisdom not revealed. The perfection and excellence of the Divine nature and the purity of his law, are, in substance and essence, double or manifold to the revelation already made. Less than thine iniquity deserveth - Mr. Good translates, And the knowledge hath withdrawn from thee because of thy sins; and represents Zophar as praying that God would reveal to him the secrets of wisdom, and the knowledge which he had withdrawn from him because of his transgressions. That Zophar intends to insinuate that God afflicted Job because of his iniquities, is evident; and that he thought that God had inflicted less chastisement upon him than his sins deserved, is not less so; and that, therefore, Job's complaining of harsh treatment was not at all well founded.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 11:1-6

Zophar attacked Job with great vehemence. He represented him as a man that loved to hear himself speak, though he could say nothing to the purpose, and as a man that maintained falsehoods. He desired God would show Job that less punishment was exacted than he deserved. We are ready, with much assurance, to call God to act in our quarrels, and to think that if he would but speak, he would take our part. We ought to…

Read the full comment on Job 11:1-6 →

Job 11:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְיַגֶּד\־ve.ya.ged-and may he tellH5046
לְךָ֨\׀le.Khato you
תַּֽעֲלֻמ֣וֹתta.'a.lu.Mot[the] secrets ofH8587
חָכְמָה֮chokh.mahwisdomH2451
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
כִפְלַ֪יִםkhif.La.yimdoubleH3718
לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥הle.Tu.shi.Yah[belongs] to sound wisdomH8454
וְדַ֡עve.Da'and knowH3045
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
יַשֶּׁ֥הya.Shehhe will cause to forgetH5382
לְךָ֥le.Khato you
אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ'e.Lo.haGodH433
מֵעֲוֹנֶֽךָ\׃me.'a.vo.Ne.khasome of iniquity yourH5771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 11:6

  • Ezra 9:13

    And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

  • Lamentations 3:22

    It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

  • Daniel 2:28

    But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

  • Ephesians 3:5

    Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

  • Matthew 13:35

    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

  • Job 15:8

    Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

  • Daniel 2:47

    The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

  • Psalms 25:14

    The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

  • Job 15:5

    For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

  • Job 9:4

    He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

  • Job 15:11

    Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

  • Romans 16:25-26

    Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shew thee.
15:8,11; 28:28; De 29:29; Ps 25:14; Da 2:28,47; Mt 13:35
Ro 16:25,26; 1Co 2:9-11; Eph 3:5
God exacteth.
Ezr 9:13; Ps 103:10; 106:43-46; La 3:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 11:5

    But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

  • Job 11:6

    And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

  • Job 11:7

    Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Read all of Job 11

Job 11:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y que te declarara los arcanos de la sabiduría, que son de doble valor que la hacienda! Conocerías entonces que Dios te ha castigado menos que tu iniquidad merece.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et de te raconter les secrets de la sagesse, comment ils sont le double de ce qu’on réalise! Et sache que ✝Dieu laisse dans l’oubli beaucoup de ton iniquité.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und dir kundtun die Geheimnisse der Weisheit, daß sie das Doppelte ist an Bestand! Dann müßtest du erkennen, daß Gott dir viel von deiner Missetat übersieht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex ejus: et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo quam meretur iniquitas tua!