Job 36:22

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 36:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?
Job 36:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 36

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Behold, God exalteth by his power, etc.] He exalts himself, or causes himself to be exalted, and even above all the blessing and praise of his creatures; by his power, in the works of creation and providence, he makes such a display of his glorious perfections, as to set him on high, and out of the reach of the highest praises of men. He exalts his Son as Mediator, and has made him higher than the kings of the earth, (<540205>1 Timothy 2:5 <580915>Hebrews 9:15); he exalts him as a Prince and a Saviour, (<440531>Acts 5:31), to give repentance and remission of sins to his people, and to be the Judge of quick and dead, (<441042>Acts 10:42 <550401>2 Timothy 4:1). He has exalted the human nature…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“God is not to be impiously arraigned, but to be praised for His might, shown in His works. exalteth--rather, doeth lofty things, shows His exalted power [UMBREIT] (Psa 21:13). teacheth-- (Psa 94:12, &c.). The connection is, returning to Job 36:5, God's "might" is shown in His "wisdom"; He alone can teach; yet, because He, as a sovereign, explains not all His dealings, forsooth Job must presume to teach Him (Isa 40:13-14; Rom 11:34; Co1 2:16). So the transition to Job 36:23 is natural. UMBREIT with the Septuagint translates, "Who is Lord," wrongly, as this meaning belongs to later Hebrew.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Behold, God exalteth by his power - The object of Elihu is now to direct the attention of Job to God, and to show him that he has evinced such power and wisdom in his works, that we ought not to presume to arraign him, but should bow with submission to his will. He remarks, therefore, that God “exalts,” or rather that God is “exalted,” or “exalts himself” (ישׂגיב yaśagiyb) by his power. In the exhibition of his power, he thus shows that he is great, and that people ought to be submissive to him. In support of this, he appeals, in the remainder of his discourse, to the “works” of God as furnishing extraordinary proofs of power, and full demonstration that God is exalted far above man. Who…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Behold - God is omnipotent; and therefore can, either punish thee far worse, or deliver thee, if thou dost repent. He is also infinitely wise; and as none can work like him, so none can teach like him. Therefore do not presume to teach him how to govern the world. None teacheth with such authority and convincing evidence, with such condescension and compassion, with such power and efficacy as God doth, he teaches by the bible, and that is the best book; by his son, and he is the best master. Job 36:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God: Sa1 2:7, Sa1 2:8; Psa 75:7; Isa 14:5; Jer 27:5-8; Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32, Dan 5:18; Luk 1:52; Rom 13:1 who: Psa 94:10, Psa 94:12; Isa 48:17, Isa 54:13; Jer 31:38; Joh 6:45 Job 36:23”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“22 Behold, God acteth loftily in His strength; Who is a teacher like unto Him? 23 Who hath appointed Him His way, And who dare say: Thou doest iniquity!? 24 Remember that thou magnify His doing, Which men have sung. 25 All men delight in it, Mortal man looketh upon it from afar. Most modern expositors, after the lxx δυνάστης, give אמת the signification lord, by comparing the Arab. mar-un (imru-un), Syr. mor (with the art. moro) or more (with the art. morjo), Chald. מרא, Talmud. מר (comp. Philo, ii. 522, ed. Mangey: οὃτως, viz., μάριν φασὶ τὸν κύριον ὀνομάζεστηαι παρὰ Σύροις), with it; but Rosenm., Arnh., Lwenthal, Wolfson, and Schlottm., after the Targ., Syr., and Jer., rightly…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification