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Sunday, April 27th, 2025
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Job 38:2

Why do you talk so much when you know so little?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blessing;   God;   Speaking;   Words;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God;   Mystery;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chaos;   Job, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Knowledge;   Nature;   World;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Job, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Who is this who obscures my counselwith ignorant words?
Hebrew Names Version
"Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
King James Version
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
English Standard Version
"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
New Century Version
"Who is this that makes my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true?
New English Translation
"Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?
Amplified Bible
"Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom] By words without knowledge?
New American Standard Bible
"Who is this who darkens the divine plan By words without knowledge?
World English Bible
"Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Who is this that darkeneth the counsell by wordes without knowledge?
Legacy Standard Bible
"Who is this that darkens counselBy words without knowledge?
Berean Standard Bible
"Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?
Complete Jewish Bible
"Who is this, darkening my plans with his ignorant words?
Darby Translation
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Easy-to-Read Version
"Who is this ignorant person saying these foolish things?
George Lamsa Translation
Who is this that gives counsel by words without knowledge?
Good News Translation

The Lord

Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?
Lexham English Bible
"Who is this darkening counsel by words without knowledge?
Literal Translation
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
what is he, that hydeth his mynde with foolysh wordes?
American Standard Version
Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
Bible in Basic English
Who is this who makes the purpose of God dark by words without knowledge?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
King James Version (1611)
Who is this that darkneth counsell by words without knowledge?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
What is he that darkeneth his counsaile by wordes without knowledge?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in his heart, and thinks to conceal them from me?
English Revised Version
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seide, Who is this man, wlappynge sentences with vnwise wordis?
Update Bible Version
Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
Webster's Bible Translation
Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
New King James Version
"Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
New Living Translation
"Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
New Life Bible
"Who is this that makes words of wisdom dark by speaking without much learning?
New Revised Standard
"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who is it that darkeneth counsel, by words, without knowledge?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is this that wrappeth up sentences in unskilful words?
Revised Standard Version
"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Young's Literal Translation
Who [is] this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
THE MESSAGE
"Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about? Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers. Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much! Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements? How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone, While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise? And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb? That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night. Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose, And said, ‘Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

Contextual Overview

1 The Lord Speaks From out of a storm, the Lord said to Job: 2 Why do you talk so much when you know so little? 3 Now get ready to face me! Can you answer the questions I ask?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Job 12:3, Job 23:4, Job 23:5, Job 24:25, Job 26:3, Job 27:11, Job 34:35, Job 35:16, Job 42:3, 1 Timothy 1:7

Reciprocal: Job 6:26 - reprove Job 11:5 - General Job 33:3 - my lips Job 37:19 - we Psalms 106:33 - he spake Psalms 139:4 - there is not Romans 9:20 - who art Colossians 2:18 - intruding James 4:12 - who

Cross-References

Genesis 3:6
The woman stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too.
Genesis 6:4
The children of the supernatural beings who had married these women became famous heroes and warriors. They were called Nephilim and lived on the earth at that time and even later.
Genesis 24:3
in the name of the Lord , who rules heaven and earth, that you won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 34:2
She was seen by Hamor's son Shechem, the leader of the Hivites, and he grabbed her and raped her.
Judges 14:2
When he got back home, he told his parents, "I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah, and I want to marry her. Get her for me!"
Judges 16:1
One day while Samson was in Gaza, he saw a prostitute and went to her house to spend the night.
2 Samuel 11:2
Late one afternoon, David got up from a nap and was walking around on the flat roof of his palace. A beautiful young woman was down below in her courtyard, bathing as her religion required. David happened to see her, and he sent one of his servants to find out who she was. The servant came back and told David, "Her name is Bathsheba. She is the daughter of Eliam, and she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite." David sent some messengers to bring her to his palace. She came to him, and he slept with her. Then she returned home.
1 Chronicles 2:3
Judah and his Canaanite wife Bathshua had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. But the Lord had Er put to death, because he disobeyed and did what the Lord hated.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Who [is] this,.... Meaning not Elihu the last speaker, as some think; and there are some who suppose not only that these words are directed to him, but all that is said in this and the following chapter: but it was Job the Lord spoke to and answered, as expressed in

Job 38:1; and these words are taken by Job to himself, Job 42:3. Concerning whom the Lord inquires, not as ignorant of him, who he was; but wondering that such a man as he should talk as he did; and as angry with him, and rebuking him for it;

that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? either his own counsel, his sense and sentiments of things, which were delivered in such an obscure manner as not to be intelligible by those that heard them; whereby they were led, as Job's friends were, into some mistaken notions of him: or rather the counsel of God, his works of providence, which are done according to the counsel of his will, and were misrepresented by Job, as not being wise and good, just and equitable; see Job 34:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who is this - Referring doubtless to Job, for he is specified in the previous verse. Some have understood it of Elihu (see Schultens), but the connection evidently demands that it should be understood as referring to Job. The object was, to reprove him for the presumptuous manner in which he had spoken of God and of his government. It was important before God manifested his approval of Job, that he should declare his sense of what he had said, and show him how improper it was to indulge in language such as he had used.

That darkeneth counsel - That makes the subject darker. Instead of explaining the reason of the divine dealings, and vindicating God from the objections alleged against him and his government, the only tendency of what he had said had been to make his government appear dark, and severe, and unjust in the view of his friends. It might have been expected of Job, being a friend of God, that all that he said would have tended to inspire confidence in him, and to explain and vindicate the divine dealings; but, God had seen much that was the very reverse. Even the true friends of God, in the dark times of trial, may say much that will tend to make people doubt the wisdom and goodness of his government, and to prejudice the minds of the wicked against him.

By words without knowledge - Words that did not contain a true explanation of the difficulty. They conveyed no light about his dealings; they did not tend to satisfy the mind, or to make the subject more clear than it was before. There is much of this kind of speaking in the world; much that is written, and much that fails from the lips in debate, in preaching, and in conversation, that explains nothing, and that even leaves the subject more perplexed than it was before. We see from this verse that God does not and cannot approve of such “words.” If his friends speak, they should vindicate his government; they should at least express their conviction that he is right; they should aim to explain his doings, and to show to the world that they are reasonable. If they cannot do this, they should adore in silence. The Savior never spoke of God in such a way as to leave any doubt that his ways could be vindicated, never so as to leave the impression that he was harsh or severe in his administration, or so as to lend the least countenance to a spirit of murmuring and complaining.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 38:2. Who is this that darkeneth counsel — As if he had said, Who art thou who pretendest to speak on the deep things of God, and the administration of his justice and providence, which thou canst not comprehend; and leavest my counsels and designs the darker for thy explanation?


 
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