Job 38 · Verse 2

Job 38:2

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:2, King James Version

Job 38:2 in other translations

BSB“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?
WEB“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
ASVWho is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
YLTWho is this--darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
DARBYWho is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
BBEWho is this who makes the purpose of God dark by words without knowledge?
WebsterWho is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

What does Job 38:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. this--Job. counsel--impugning My divine wisdom in the providential arrangements of the universe. Such "words" (including those of the friends) rather obscure, than throw light on My ways. God is about to be Job's Vindicator, but must first bring him to a right state of mind for receiving relief.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel - As if he had said, Who art thou who pretendest to speak on the deep things of God, and the administration of his justice and providence, which thou canst not comprehend; and leavest my counsels and designs the darker for thy explanation?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 38:1-3

Job had silenced, but had not convinced his friends. Elihu had silenced Job, but had not brought him to admit his guilt before God. It pleased the Lord to interpose. The Lord, in this discourse, humbles Job, and brings him to repent of his passionate expressions concerning God's providential dealings with him; and this he does, by calling upon Job to compare God's being from everlasting to everlasting, with his own…

Read the full comment on Job 38:1-3 →

Job 38:2 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.

מִ֤יmiwho?H4310
זֶ֨ה\׀zehthisH2088
מַחְשִׁ֖יךְmach.Shikh[is] making darkH2821
עֵצָ֥ה'e.TzahcounselH6098
בְמִלִּ֗יןve.mi.Linby wordsH4405
בְּֽלִי\־be.li-notH1097
דָֽעַת\׃Da.'atknowledgeH1847

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

Cross references for Job 38:2

  • Job 42:3

    Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

  • Job 35:16

    Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

  • 1 Timothy 1:7

    Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

  • Job 34:35

    Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

  • Job 27:11

    I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

  • Job 24:25

    And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

  • Job 12:3

    But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

  • Job 23:4-5

    I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

  • Job 26:3

    How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:3; 23:4,5; 24:25; 26:3; 27:11; 34:35; 35:16; 42:3; 1Ti 1:7

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

Context

  • Job 38:1

    Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

  • Job 38:2

    Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

  • Job 38:3

    Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Read all of Job 38

Job 38:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién es ése que oscurece el consejo con palabras sin sabiduría?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui est celui-ci qui obscurcit le conseil par des discours sans connaissance?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer ist es, der den Rat verdunkelt mit Worten ohne Erkenntnis?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis est iste involvens sententias sermonibus imperitis?