Job 11: Zophar answers Job
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Zophar the Naamathite answers Job. He says Job's many words should be answered, says Job claims his teaching is pure, and wishes God would speak. He asks if Job can find out God, and tells him that if he sets his heart right and puts wickedness far away he will be secure, while the eyes of the wicked will fail.
Who is speaking?
Zophar the Naamathite speaks the whole chapter: verse 1 says he answered. The chapter does not name Job; it follows Job's words in chapter 10, and Zophar says "you" to the one he answers. In verse 4 he gives words that he says Job speaks ("My doctrine is pure"). Those are Zophar's words about Job. In verses 5 to 6 he wishes that God would speak. God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
In plain English: Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
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2“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
In plain English: "Should the multitude of words not be answered? Should a man full of talk (the Hebrew says: a man of lips) be justified?
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3Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed?
In plain English: Should your empty boasts make men keep silent? When you mock, will no one put you to shame?
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4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’
In plain English: For you say, 'My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.'
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5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
In plain English: But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you (or: with you),
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6that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
In plain English: and tell you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom (the WEB says: true wisdom) has two sides (the Hebrew says: is double). Know that God makes you forget (or: removes) some of your iniquity (the WEB says: exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves).
The Hebrew words: "Two sides" is kephel, which the dictionary gives as "a duplicate". It is in 3 verses of the Bible: here, , where the WEB says "double", and . "Exacts" is nashah, which the dictionary gives as "to forget; figuratively, to neglect; causatively, to remit, remove". It is in 6 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "exacts" in 1 of them, this one.
What changes: With the dictionary words, the end of the verse reads that God causes you to forget some of your iniquity, or removes some of it. The WEB reads that he asks less of Job than his iniquity deserves. The text does not say which Zophar means.
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7“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
In plain English: "Can you find out the depths of God (the Hebrew says: the searching of God)? Can you find the Almighty all the way to his limit (the Hebrew says: to the end of the Almighty)?
The Hebrew words: "God" here is Eloah, which the dictionary gives as "a deity or the Deity". It is in 41 verses of Job, and the WEB says "God" in all 41. "Almighty" is Shadday, which the dictionary gives as "the Almighty". It is in 31 verses of Job, and the WEB says "Almighty" in all 31.
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8They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?
In plain English: They are high as heaven (the Hebrew says: the heights of heaven). What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?
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9Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
In plain English: Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
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10If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
In plain English: If he passes by, or shuts up, or calls an assembly together, who can turn him back (the WEB says: oppose him)?
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11For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
In plain English: For he knows men of falsehood. He sees wickedness too, even though he does not consider it (or: show himself attentive).
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12An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
In plain English: A hollow (the WEB says: empty-headed) man becomes intelligent, and a wild donkey's colt is born a human being (the WEB says: when a man is born as a wild donkey's colt: the Hebrew is hard, see the note).
The Hebrew words: "Empty-headed" is nabab, which the dictionary gives as "to pierce; to be hollow, or (figuratively) foolish". It is in 4 verses of the Bible. In the other 3 (, and ) the WEB says "hollow".
What changes: The Hebrew has "and" where the WEB has "when". Word by word it reads: a hollow man will become intelligent, and a wild donkey's colt will be born a human being. The verse is hard, and the text does not say how the two halves are joined.
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13“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.
In plain English: "If you direct your heart and spread out your palms to him (or: then spread out your palms to him),
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14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
In plain English: if wickedness is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let injustice live in your tents.
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15Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,
In plain English: Surely then you will lift up your face without a blemish. You will be firmly established, and will not fear,
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16for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
In plain English: for you will forget your trouble. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
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17Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.
In plain English: Your lifespan will rise up above noon (the WEB says: clearer than the noonday). Though there is darkness, it will become like the morning.
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18You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety.
In plain English: You will be secure, because there is hope. You will search (the Hebrew word means to dig or explore; the word-by-word meanings give: you will be well protected), and lie down in safety.
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19Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor.
In plain English: You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Many will entreat your face (the WEB says: court your favor).
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20But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
In plain English: But the eyes of the wicked will fail. A place of escape will be lost to them. Their hope will be a gasp of life (the WEB says: the giving up of the spirit)."
The Hebrew words: "Giving up of the spirit" is mappach nefesh. Mappach is in this verse only in the whole Bible, and the dictionary gives it as "a breathing out (of life), i.e. expiring". The word after it, nefesh, the dictionary gives as "properly, a breathing creature".
What changes: Word by word the Hebrew reads "a gasp of life". The WEB says "the giving up of the spirit".
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