Job 4 · Verse 2

Job 4:2

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
Job 4:2, King James Version

Job 4:2 in other translations

BSB“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?
WEB“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
ASVIf one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
YLTHath one tried a word with thee? --Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
DARBYIf a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
BBEIf one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?
WebsterIf we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can refrain from speaking?

What does Job 4:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. If we assay to commune--Rather, two questions, "May we attempt a word with thee? Wilt thou be grieved at it?" Even pious friends often count that only a touch which we feel as a wound.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 If we assay to commune with thee - As if he had said, Should I and my friends endeavor to reason with thee ever so mildly, because we shall have many things to say by way of reprehension, thou wilt be grieved and faint; and this we may reasonably infer from the manner in which thou bearest thy present afflictions. Yet as thou hast uttered words which are injurious to thy Maker, who can forbear speaking? It is our duty to rise up on the part of God, though thereby we shall grieve him who is our friend. This was a plausible beginning, and certainly was far from being insincere.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 4:1-6

Satan undertook to prove Job a hypocrite by afflicting him; and his friends concluded him to be one because he was so afflicted, and showed impatience. This we must keep in mind if we would understand what passed. Eliphaz speaks of Job, and his afflicted condition, with tenderness; but charges him with weakness and faint-heartedness. Men make few allowances for those who have taught others. Even pious friends will…

Read the full comment on Job 4:1-6 →

Job 4:2 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.

הֲנִסָּ֬הha.ni.Sah¿ did someone attemptH5254
דָבָ֣רda.Vara wordH1697
אֵלֶ֣יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
תִּלְאֶ֑הtil.'Ehwill you be impatient?H3811
וַעְצֹ֥רva'.Tzorand to restrainH6113
בְּ֝מִלִּ֗יןbe.mi.Lin<in> wordsH4405
מִ֣יmiwho?H4310
יוּכָֽל\׃yu.Khalis he ableH3201

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

Cross references for Job 4:2

  • Job 32:18-20

    For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

  • Acts 4:20

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  • Jeremiah 6:11

    Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

  • Jeremiah 20:9

    Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:4-6

    For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

    For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to commune. Heb. a word. wilt thou.
2Co 2:4-6; 7:8-10
withhold himself from speaking. Heb. refrain from words.
32:18-20; Jer 6:11; 20:9; Ac 4:20

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

Context

  • Job 4:1

    Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

  • Job 4:2

    If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

  • Job 4:3

    Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Read all of Job 4

Job 4:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si probáremos á hablarte, serte ha molesto; mas ¿quién podrá detener las palabras?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si nous essayons de t’adresser une parole, en seras-tu irrité? Mais qui pourrait se retenir de parler?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn man ein Wort an dich versucht, wird es dich verdrießen? Doch die Worte zurückzuhalten, wer vermöchte es?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si cœperimus loqui tibi, forsitan moleste accipies; sed conceptum sermonem tenere quis poterit?