Job 37 · Verse 23

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.
Job 37:23, King James Version

Job 37:23 in other translations

BSBThe Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
WEBWe can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
ASVTouching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
YLTThe Mighty! we have not found Him out, High in power and judgment, He doth not answer! And abundant in righteousness,
DARBYThe Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict.
BBEThere is no searching out of the Ruler of all: his strength and his judging are great; he is full of righteousness, doing no wrong.
WebsterTouching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice: he will not afflict.

What does Job 37:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. afflict--oppressively, so as to "pervert judgment" as Job implied (see on Job 8:3); but see on Job 37:21, end of note. The reading, "He answereth not," that is, gives no account of His dealings, is like a transcriber's correction, from Job 33:13, Margin.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out - This is a very abrupt exclamation, and highly descriptive of the state of mind in which Elihu was at this time; full of solemnity, wonder, and astonishment, at his own contemplation of this "great First Cause, least understood." The Almighty! we cannot find him out. Excellent in power and in judgment - We must not pretend to comprehend his being, the mode of his existence, the wisdom of his counsels, nor the mysteries of his conduct. He will not afflict - לא יענה la yeanneh, he will not Answer. He will give account of none of his matters to us. We cannot comprehend his motives, nor the ends he has in view.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 37:21-24

Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings concerning the glory of God. Light always is, but is not always to be seen. When clouds come between, the sun is darkened in the clear day. The light of God's favour shines ever towards his faithful servants, though it be not always seen. Sins are clouds, and often hinder us from seeing that bright light which is in the face of God. Also, as to those thick clouds…

Read the full comment on Job 37:21-24 →

Job 37:23 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.

שַׁדַּ֣יsha.Dai[the] AlmightyH7706
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
מְ֭צָאנֻהוּMe.tza.nu.huwe have found himH4672
שַׂגִּיא\־sa.gi'-exalted ofH7689
כֹ֑חַKho.achpowerH3581
וּמִשְׁפָּ֥טu.mish.Patand justiceH4941
וְרֹב\־ve.rov-and greatness ofH7230
צְ֝דָקָ֗הtze.da.KahrighteousnessH6666
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יְעַנֶּֽה\׃ye.'a.Nehhe violatesH6031

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

Cross references for Job 37:23

  • Romans 11:33

    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

  • 1 Timothy 6:16

    Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

  • Job 36:5

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

  • Psalms 99:4

    The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

  • Lamentations 3:32-33

    But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

  • Job 9:4

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

  • Ezekiel 18:23

    Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

  • Proverbs 30:3-4

    I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  • Psalms 30:5

    For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Isaiah 45:21

    Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

  • Job 11:7

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we.
19; 11:7; 26:14; 36:26; Pr 30:3,4; Ec 3:11; Lu 10:22; Ro 11:33
1Ti 6:16
excellent.
9:4,19; 12:13; 36:5; Ps 62:11; 65:6; 66:3; 93:1; 99:4; 146:6,7
Isa 45:21; Mt 6:13
in judgment.
Ps 36:5-7
he will.
16:7-17; Ps 30:5; La 3:32,33; Heb 12:10

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

Context

  • Job 37:22

    Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

  • 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.

  • Job 37:24

    Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Read all of Job 37

Job 37:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El es Todopoderoso, al cual no alcanzamos, grande en potencia; y en juicio y en multitud de justicia no afligirá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le Tout-puissant, nous ne le trouvons pas; grand en force, en jugement et en beaucoup de justice, il n’opprime pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		den Allmächtigen, den erreichen wir nicht, den Erhabenen an Kraft; und das Recht und der Gerechtigkeit Fülle beugt er nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Digne eum invenire non possumus: magnus fortitudine, et judicio, et justitia: et enarrari non potest.