Job 42 · Verse 3

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 42:3, King James Version

Job 42:3 in other translations

BSB	You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
WEB	You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
ASV	Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
YLT	‘Who is this, hiding counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have declared, and understand not, Too wonderful for me, and I know not.
DARBY	Who is he that obscureth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
BBE	Who is this who makes dark the purpose of God by words without knowledge? For I have been talking without knowledge about wonders not to be searched out.
Webster	Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that which I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

What does Job 42:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. I am the man! Job in God's own words (Job 38:2) expresses his deep and humble penitence. God's word concerning our guilt should be engraven on our hearts and form the groundwork of our confession. Most men in confessing sin palliate rather than confess. Job in omitting "by words" (Job 38:2), goes even further than God's accusation. Not merely my words, but my whole thoughts and ways were "without knowledge." too wonderful--I rashly denied that Thou hast any fixed plan in governing human affairs, merely because Thy plan was "too wonderful" for my comprehension.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 Who is he that hideth counsel - These are the words of Job, and they are a repetition of what Jehovah said, Job 38:2 : "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" Job now having heard the Almighty's speech, and having received his reproof, echoes back his words: "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge Alas, I am the man; I have uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, that I knew not. God had said, Job 38:3 : "Gird up now thy loins like a man; I will demand of thee, and answer thou me." In allusion to this, Job exclaims to his Maker, Job 42:4 : "Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will ask of Thee, and declare Thou unto Me." I acknowledge my ignorance; I confess my foolishness and presumption; I am ashamed of my conduct; I lament my imperfections; I implore thy mercy; and beg thee to show me thy will, that I may ever think, speak, and do, what is pleasing in thy sight. Things too wonderful - I have spoken of thy judgments, which I did not comprehend.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 42:1-6

Job was now sensible of his guilt; he would no longer speak in his own excuse; he abhorred himself as a sinner in heart and life, especially for murmuring against God, and took shame to himself. When the understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of grace, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as the sight of the eyes excels report and common fame. By the teachings of men, God reveals his…

Read the full comment on Job 42:1-6 →

Job 42:3 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

מַעְלִ֥יםma'.Lim[is] concealingH5956

עֵצָ֗ה'e.TzahcounselH6098

בְּֽלִ֫יbe.LinotH1097

דָ֥עַתDa.'atknowledgeH1847

לָכֵ֣ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651

הִ֭גַּדְתִּיHi.gad.tiI have toldH5046

וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808

אָבִ֑ין'a.VinI understoodH995

נִפְלָא֥וֹתnif.la.'ot[things too] wonderfulH6381

מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּיmi.Me.nifor meH4480

וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808

אֵדָֽע\׃'e.Da'I knewH3045

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

Cross references for Job 42:3

Psalms 131:1
A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
Job 38:2
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Psalms 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psalms 40:5
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Proverbs 30:2-4
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 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?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Who.
38:2
things.
Ps 40:5; 131:1; 139:6; Pr 30:2-4

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

Context

Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
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 42:4
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Read all of Job 42

Job 42:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Quién es el que oscurece el consejo sin ciencia? por tanto yo denunciaba lo que no entendía; cosas que me eran ocultas, y que no las sabía.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Qui est celui-ci qui, sans connaissance, voile le conseil? J’ai donc parlé, et sans comprendre, de choses trop merveilleuses pour moi, que je ne connaissais pas.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer ist es, der den Rat verhüllt ohne Erkenntnis? So habe ich denn beurteilt, was ich nicht verstand, Dinge, zu wunderbar für mich, die ich nicht kannte.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quis est iste qui celat consilium absque scientia? ideo insipienter locutus sum, et quæ ultra modum excederent scientiam meam.