New International Version“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
New Living Translation“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?
English Standard VersionWill any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
Berean Standard BibleCan anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
King James BibleShall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
New King James Version“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
New American Standard Bible“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?
NASB 1995“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?
NASB 1977“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?
Legacy Standard BibleCan anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?
Amplified Bible“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Seeing that He judges those on high?
Christian Standard BibleCan anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges the exalted ones?
Holman Christian Standard BibleCan anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?
American Standard VersionShall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?
Contemporary English VersionWho can tell God what to do? He judges powerful rulers. *
English Revised VersionShall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Can anyone teach God knowledge? Can anyone judge the Most High?
Good News TranslationCan anyone teach God, who judges even those in high places?
International Standard Version"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.
NET BibleCan anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?
New Heart English Bible"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?
Webster's Bible TranslationShall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleCan anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
World English Bible“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDoes [one] teach knowledge to God, "" Since He judges [those] on high?
Young's Literal Translation To God doth one teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?
Smith's Literal TranslationShall he teach knowledge to God? and he will judge those lifted up. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleShall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
Catholic Public Domain VersionCan anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
New American BibleCan anyone teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those on high?
New Revised Standard VersionWill any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleShall any teach God knowledge, seeing it is he who judges the proud?
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedDo you teach God knowledge? For he will judge the proud! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Shall any teach God knowledge? Seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationIs it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Job: God will Punish the Wicked… 21For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out? 22Can anyone teachknowledgeto God,since Hejudgesthose on high?23One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.…
Cross References Isaiah 40:13-14Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? / Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?
Romans 11:34“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
1 Corinthians 2:16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Isaiah 45:9-12Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? / Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’” / Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands? ...
Daniel 4:35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
Psalm 92:5-6How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts! / A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
Isaiah 55:8-9“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Ecclesiastes 8:17I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.
Romans 9:20-21But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
1 Corinthians 1:25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
Psalm 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Isaiah 29:16You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?
Jeremiah 18:6“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
Job 9:4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
Job 12:13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
Treasury of Scripture Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high. teach Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instructhim? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Isaiah 40:13,14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, orbeing his counseller hath taught him? … Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!Let the potsherdstrive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? he judgeth Job 34:17-19 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? … Psalm 113:5,6 Whois like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, … Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: forhe that is higher than the highest regardeth; andthere be higher than they. Jump to Previous AbleHighHighestJudgeJudgesJudgethTeachTeachingJump to Next AbleHighHighestJudgeJudgesJudgethTeachTeachingJob 21 1.Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved7.Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God16.Sometimes their destruction is manifest21.The happy and unhappy are alike in death27.The judgment of the wicked is in another worldCan anyone teach knowledge to GodThis phrase emphasizes the omniscience of God, a central tenet in Christian theology. The rhetorical question implies that God's wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension. This is consistent with other biblical passages such as Isaiah 40:13-14, which speak of God's unparalleled wisdom. The idea that no one can instruct God underscores His sovereignty and the futility of human pride. In the context of Job, this statement challenges the assumptions of Job's friends, who presume to understand God's ways and judgments. since He judges those on high? This part of the verse highlights God's authority over all, including celestial beings or those in positions of power. The phrase "those on high" can refer to angels or heavenly beings, as well as earthly rulers, indicating that God's jurisdiction is universal. This aligns with passages likePsalm 82:1, where God presides over a divine council, andDaniel 4:35, which speaks of God's dominion over all the earth. The assertion that God judges even the highest beings reinforces His ultimate authority and justice, a theme that runs throughout the book of Job. It also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Christ as the judge of all, as seen in passages likeJohn 5:22. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and patience, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He is known for his suffering and his quest to understand the reasons behind it. 2. GodThe omniscient and omnipotent Creator, who is the ultimate judge and source of wisdom. 3. Job's FriendsEliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who attempt to explain Job's suffering through traditional wisdom, often attributing it to sin. 4. Heavenly CourtThe setting where God judges, often depicted as a place where divine decisions are made. 5. The Book of JobA poetic and philosophical text in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, justice, and divine wisdom. Teaching Points God's OmniscienceRecognize that God's knowledge is complete and perfect. Human understanding is limited, and we must trust in His divine wisdom. Humility Before GodApproach God with humility, acknowledging that we cannot teach or correct Him. Our role is to seek His guidance and wisdom. Trust in Divine JudgmentTrust that God's judgments are just and righteous, even when they are beyond our comprehension. He sees the bigger picture that we cannot. The Limits of Human WisdomUnderstand that human wisdom has its limits. We should seek God's wisdom through prayer and scripture. Faith in Times of SufferingIn times of suffering, like Job, maintain faith in God's ultimate plan and purpose, even when it is not immediately clear. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Job 21
In Job 21:22, how can humans teach God anything if He is described elsewhere as all-knowing and beyond counsel?
If God is all-knowing, how does human free will exist?
Why does Jesus deny some who call him 'Lord'?
Job 34:21 - The passage implies God sees all human actions; is there historical or scientific evidence for universal divine oversight?(22) Shall any teach God knowledge?may be regarded as the hypothetical reply of the antagonist. If the reader prefers to understand these latter verses in any other way, it is open to him to do so, but in our judgment it seems better to understand them thus. The supposed alternative hypothetical argument seems to throw much light upon them. Verse 22. - Shall any teach God knowledge? Job has been searching the "deep things of God," speculating upon the method of the Divine government of the world, he has perhaps rashly ventured to "rush in where angels fear to tread." Now, however, he cheeks himself with the confession that God's ways are inscrutable, his knowledge far beyond any knowledge possessed by man. Men must not presume to judge him; it is for him to judge them. Seeing he judgeth those that are high. None so exalted, none so advanced in wisdom and knowledge, none so venturesome in sounding depths that they cannot fathom, but God is above them, judges them, knows their hearts, and, according to his infallible wisdom, condemns or approves them. This is a chastening thought, and its effect on Job is to make him contract his sails, and, leaving the empyrean, content himself with s lower flight. Previously he has maintained, as if he were admitted to the Divine counsels, that the prosperity of the wicked was a rule of God's government. Now he goes no further than to say that there is no rule discoverable. Happiness and misery are dispensed - as far as man can see - on no definite principle, and, at the end, one lot happens to all: all go down into the tomb, and lie in the dust, and the worms devour them (vers. 23-26).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Can anyone teachיְלַמֶּד־(yə·lam·meḏ-)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3925:To exercise in, learnknowledgeדָּ֑עַת(dā·‘aṯ)Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1847:Knowledgeto God,הַלְאֵ֥ל(hal·’êl)Article, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 410:Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almightysince Heוְ֝ה֗וּא(wə·hū)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, arejudgesיִשְׁפּֽוֹט׃(yiš·pō·wṭ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8199:To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigatethose on high?רָמִ֥ים(rā·mîm)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7311:To be high actively, to rise, raise
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OT Poetry: Job 21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge seeing he (Jb) |