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Job Chapter 35

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 16 Verses

What is Job 35 about?

The suffering of a righteous man and the profound questions it raises about God's justice, sovereignty, and human understanding. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2Thinkest thou this to be [thy] right, [Or] sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God`s,
3That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
4I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.
5Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
6If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?
8Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou art; And thy righteousness [may profit] a son of man.
9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,
11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?
12There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.
13Surely God will not hear an empty [cry], Neither will the Almighty regard it.
14How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!
15But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;
16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Elihu spake moreover, and said.] Elihu very probably paused awhile, and waited to observe whether any of the company would rise up, and either contradict and refute what he had said, or declare their assent unto it and approbation of it; or rather to see whether Job would make any reply or not; but perceiving no inclination in him to it, he proceeded to take notice of some other undue expressions of Job, and refute them; one of which is observed in (<183502>Job 35:2), and the proof of it given in (<183503>Job 35:3).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“(Job 35:1-16) more than--rather as in Job 9:2; Job 25:4 : "I am righteous (literally, my righteousness is) before God." The English Version, however, agrees with Job 9:17; Job 16:12-17; Job 27:2-6. Job 4:17 is susceptible of either rendering. Elihu means Job said so, not in so many words, but virtually.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Elihu spake - Hebrew, ויען vaya‛an “And he answered”; the word “answer” being used, as it is often in the Scriptures, to denote the commencement of a discourse. We may suppose that Elihu had paused at the close of his second discourse, possibly with a view to see whether there was any disposition to reply. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“Thou saidst - Not that Job said this in express terms, but he said those things from which this might seem to follow, as that God had punished him more than he deserved. Job 35:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 4
“35:4-8 Elihu attempted to answer his own question (35:2), but his answer did not add to what Zophar (11:8-9), Eliphaz (22:12), Bildad (25:5-6), and Job (9:8-10) had already said. Elihu failed to recognize that all sin wrongs God (Gen 39:9; Matt 25:41-46; cp. Prov 19:17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 2
“Thinkest: Mat 12:36, Mat 12:37; Luk 19:22 My: Job 9:17, Job 10:7, Job 16:17, Job 19:6, Job 19:7, Job 27:2-6, Job 34:5, Job 40:8 Job 35:3”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“1 Then began Elihu, and said: 2 Dost thou consider this to be right, Sayest thou: my righteousness exceedeth God's, 3 That thou sayest, what advantage is it to thee, What doth it profit me more than my sin? 4 I will answer thee words, And thy companions with thee. The neutral זאת, Job 35:2, refers prospectively to כּי־תאמר, Job 35:3: this that thou sayest. חשׁב with acc. of the obj. and ל of the predicate, as Job 33:10, comp. Job 13:24, and freq. The second interrogative clause, Job 35:2, is co-ordinate with the first, and the collective thought of this ponderous construction, Job 35:2, Job 35:3, is this:…”
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