Job 37 · Verse 24

Job 37:24

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
Job 37:24, King James Version

Job 37:24 in other translations

BSBTherefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
WEBTherefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
ASVMen do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
YLTTherefore do men fear Him, He seeth not any of the wise of heart.
DARBYMen do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
BBEFor this cause men go in fear of him; he has no respect for any who are wise in heart.
WebsterMen therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

What does Job 37:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. do--rather, "ought." wise--in their own conceits.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Men do therefore - Therefore men, אנשים anashim, wretched, miserable, ignorant, sinful men, should fear him. He respecteth not any - No man is valuable in his sight on account of his wisdom; for what is his wisdom when compared with that of the Omniscient? Whatever good is in man, God alone is the author of it. Let him, therefore, that glorieth, glory in the Lord. Thus ends the speech of Elihu; a speech of a widely different description, on the whole, from that of the three friends of Job who had spoken so largely before him. In the speeches of Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, there is little besides a tissue of borrowed wise sayings, and ancient proverbs and maxims, relative to the nature of God, and his moral government of the world. In the speech of Elihu every thing appears to be original; he speaks from a deep and comprehensive mind, that had profoundly studied the subjects on which he discoursed. His descriptions of the Divine attributes, and of the wonderful works of God, are correct, splendid, impressive, and inimitable. Elihu, having now come nearly to a close, and knowing that the Almighty would appear and speak for himself, judiciously prepares for and announces his coming by the thunder and lightning of which he has given so terrific and majestic a description in this and the preceding chapter. The evidences of the Divine presence throng on his eyes and mind; the incomprehensible glory and excellency of God confound all his powers of reasoning and description; he cannot arrange his words by reason of darkness; and he concludes with stating, that to poor weak man God must for ever be incomprehensible, and to him a subject of deep religious fear and reverence. Just then the terrible majesty of the Lord appears! Elihu is silent! The rushing mighty wind, for which the description of the thunder and lightning had prepared poor, confounded, astonished Job, proclaims the presence of Jehovah: and out of this whirlwind God answers for and proclaims himself! Reader, canst thou not conceive something of what these men felt? Art thou not astonished, perplexed, confounded, in reading over these descriptions of the thunder of God's power? Prepare, then, to hear the voice of God himself out of this whirlwind.

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 37:24 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.

לָ֭כֵןLa.khen<to> thereforeH3651
יְרֵא֣וּהוּye.re.'U.huthey fear himH3372
אֲנָשִׁ֑ים'a.na.ShimpeopleH582
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יִ֝רְאֶ֗הyir.'Ehhe seesH7200
כָּל\־kol-anyH3605
חַכְמֵי\־chakh.mei-[people] wise ofH2450
לֵֽב\׃\ \פLevheartH3820

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

Cross references for Job 37:24

  • Matthew 10:28

    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:26

    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

  • Job 5:13

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

  • Matthew 11:25-26

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

  • Romans 2:4

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

  • Isaiah 5:21

    Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

  • Psalms 130:4

    But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

  • Jeremiah 32:39

    And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

  • Hosea 3:5

    Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.

  • Romans 11:20-22

    Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

  • Luke 10:21

    In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

  • Luke 12:4-5

    And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fear.
Ps 130:4; Jer 32:39; 33:9; Ho 3:5; Mt 10:28; Lu 12:4,5; Ro 2:4
Ro 11:20-22
he.
5:13; Ec 9:11; Isa 5:21; Mt 11:25,26; Lu 10:21; 1Co 1:26; 3:19

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

Context

  • 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 37:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Temerlo han por tanto los hombres: él no mira á los sabios de corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est pourquoi les hommes le craindront; aucun des sages de cœur ne le contemplera.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum fürchten ihn die Menschen; er sieht keine an, die weisen Herzens sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo timebunt eum viri, et non audebunt contemplari omnes qui sibi videntur esse sapientes.