Job 36 · Verse 26

Job 36:26

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Job 36:26, King James Version

Job 36:26 in other translations

BSBIndeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
WEBBehold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
ASVBehold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
YLTLo, God is high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there is no searching.
DARBYLo,God is great, and we comprehend him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
BBETruly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.
WebsterBehold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

What does Job 36:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. (Job 37:13). God's greatness in heaven and earth: a reason why Job should bow under His afflicting hand. know him not--only in part (Job 36:25; 1Co 13:12). his years--(Psa 90:2; 102:24, 27); applied to Jesus Christ (He 1:12).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 God is great - He is omnipotent. We know him not - He is unsearchable. Neither can the number of his years be searched out - He is eternal. These three propositions are an ample foundation for endless disquisition. As to paraphrase and comment, they need none in this place; they are too profound, comprehensive, and sublime.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 36:24-33

Elihu endeavours to fill Job with high thought of God, and so to persuade him into cheerful submission to his providence. Man may see God's works, and is capable of discerning his hand in them, which the beasts are not, therefore they ought to give him the glory. But while the worker of iniquity ought to tremble, the true believer should rejoice. Children should hear with pleasure their Father's voice, even when he…

Read the full comment on Job 36:24-33 →

Job 36:26 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-there!H2005
אֵ֣ל'elGodH410
שַׂ֭גִּיאSa.gi'[is] exaltedH7689
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
נֵדָ֑עne.Da'we know [him]H3045
מִסְפַּ֖רmis.Par[the] number ofH4557
שָׁנָ֣יוsha.Navyears hisH8141
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
חֵֽקֶר\׃Che.kerinquiryH2714

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

Cross references for Job 36:26

  • Psalms 90:2

    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

  • Psalms 145:3

    Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

  • Job 11:7-9

    Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

  • 1 Kings 8:27

    But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:12

    For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

  • Job 37:5

    God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

  • Job 37:23

    Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

  • Psalms 102:24-27

    I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

  • 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 10:5

    Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,

  • Hebrews 1:12

    And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

  • 2 Peter 3:8

    But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
God.
37:5; Ps 145:3
we.
11:7-9; 26:14; 37:23; 1Ki 8:27
neither.
Ps 90:2; 102:24-27; Heb 1:12; 2Pe 3:8

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

Context

  • Job 36:25

    Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

  • Job 36:26

    Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

  • Job 36:27

    For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

Read all of Job 36

Job 36:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí, Dios es grande, y nosotros no le conocemos; ni se puede rastrear el número de sus años.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, ✶Dieu est grand, et nous ne le connaissons pas; le nombre de ses années, nul ne le sonde.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, Gott ist zu erhaben für unsere Erkenntnis; die Zahl seiner Jahre, sie ist unerforschlich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ecce Deus magnus vincens scientiam nostram: numerus annorum ejus inæstimabilis.