Job 33 · Verse 12

Job 33:12

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Job 33:12, King James Version

Job 33:12 in other translations

BSBBehold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
WEB“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
ASVBehold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.
YLTLo, in this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
DARBYBehold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man.
BBETruly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
WebsterBehold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

What does Job 33:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. in this--view of God and His government. It cannot be that God should jealously "watch" man, though "spotless," as an "enemy," or as one afraid of him as an equal. For "God is greater than man!" There must be sin in man, even though he be no hypocrite, which needs correction by suffering for the sufferer's good.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 In this thou art not just - Thou hast laid charges against God's dealings, but thou hast not been able to justify those charges; and were there nothing else against thee, these irreverent speeches are so many proofs that thou art not clear in the sight of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 33:8-13

Elihu charges Job with reflecting upon the justice and goodness of God. When we hear any thing said to God's dishonour, we ought to bear our testimony against it. Job had represented God as severe in marking what he did amiss. Elihu urges that he had spoken wrong, and that he ought to humble himself before God, and by repentance to unsay it. God is not accountable to us. It is unreasonable for weak, sinful…

Read the full comment on Job 33:8-13 →

Job 33:12 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.

הֶן\־hen-here!H2005
זֹ֣אתzotthisH2063
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
צָדַ֣קְתָּtza.Dak.tayou are in [the] rightH6663
אֶעֱנֶ֑ךָּ'e.'e.Ne.kaI will answer youH6030
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
יִרְבֶּ֥הyir.Behhe is greatH7235
אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ'e.Lo.haGodH433
מֵאֱנֽוֹשׁ\׃me.'e.No.oshmore than a humanH582

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

Cross references for Job 33:12

  • Job 36:5

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

  • Ezekiel 18:25

    Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

  • Job 35:2

    Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

  • Job 32:17

    I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

  • Job 34:17-19

    Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

  • Job 26:14

    Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

  • Job 40:8-9

    Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

  • Job 35:4

    I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

  • Jeremiah 18:6

    O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20

    For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  • Romans 9:19-21

    Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

  • Job 36:22-23

    Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thou.
1:22; 34:10-12,17-19,23; 35:2; 36:22,23; Eze 18:25; Ro 9:19-21
I will.
32:17; 35:4
God.
9:4; 26:14; 36:5; 40:2,8,9; Jer 18:6

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

Context

  • Job 33:11

    He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

  • Job 33:12

    Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

  • Job 33:13

    Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Read all of Job 33

Job 33:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí en esto no has hablado justamente: yo te responderé que mayor es Dios que el hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, je te répondrai qu’en cela tu n’as pas été juste, car ✝Dieu est plus grand que l’homme.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, darin hast du nicht recht, antworte ich dir; denn Gott ist erhabener als ein Mensch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hoc est ergo in quo non es justificatus: respondebo tibi, quia major sit Deus homine.