Job 26:3
New International Version
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed!

New Living Translation
How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered!

English Standard Version
How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Berean Standard Bible
How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight!

King James Bible
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

New King James Version
How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many?

New American Standard Bible
“What advice you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!

NASB 1995
“What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!

NASB 1977
“What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!

Legacy Standard Bible
What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What sound wisdom you have abundantly made known!

Amplified Bible
“How you have counseled the one who has no wisdom! And how abundantly you have provided sound wisdom and helpful insight!

Christian Standard Bible
How you have counseled the unwise and abundantly provided insight!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How you have counseled the unwise and thoroughly explained the path to success!

American Standard Version
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Contemporary English Version
You have given great advice and wonderful wisdom to someone truly in need.

English Revised Version
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You have advised the person who has no wisdom and offered so much assistance.

Good News Translation
You give such good advice and share your knowledge with a fool like me!

International Standard Version
What counsel you provide to the fool! What insight you provide so abundantly!

Majority Standard Bible
How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight!

NET Bible
How you have advised the one without wisdom, and abundantly revealed your insight!

New Heart English Bible
How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge.

Webster's Bible Translation
How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou abundantly declared the thing as it is?

World English Bible
How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
How you have given counsel to the unwise, "" And made known wise plans in abundance.

Young's Literal Translation
What -- thou hast given counsel to the unwise, And wise plans in abundance made known.

Smith's Literal Translation
How didst thou counsel to him of no wisdom? and didst thou make known help for abundance?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence.

Catholic Public Domain Version
To whom have you given advice? Perhaps it is to him that has no wisdom or prudence that you have revealed your many ideas.

New American Bible
How you give counsel to one without wisdom; how profuse is the advice you offer!

New Revised Standard Version
How you have counseled one who has no wisdom, and given much good advice!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
How have you counselled him who has no wisdom? And how have you expounded so many doctrines?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
How have you counseled him who is without wisdom, and how much instruction have you made known?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
To whom hast thou given counsel? is it not to him who has all wisdom? whom wilt thou follow? is it not one who has the greatest power?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: Who Can Understand God's Majesty?
2“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble! 3How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight! 4To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?…

Cross References
Proverbs 8:14
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

Isaiah 40:13-14
Who 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 11:33-34
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “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.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Isaiah 28:29
This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Daniel 2:20-21
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. / He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Jeremiah 10:12
The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

1 Kings 4:29-30
And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. / Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


Treasury of Scripture

How have you counceled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?

counselled

Job 6:13
Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

Job 12:3
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

Job 13:5
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

plentifully

Job 33:3,33
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly…

Job 38:2
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Psalm 49:1-4
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: …

Jump to Previous
Abundance Abundantly Advice Clear Counsel Counseled Counselled Declared Displayed Fully Great Helpful Insight Offered Plans Plentifully Provided Sound Teaching True. Unwise Wisdom Wise
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Abundance Abundantly Advice Clear Counsel Counseled Counselled Declared Displayed Fully Great Helpful Insight Offered Plans Plentifully Provided Sound Teaching True. Unwise Wisdom Wise
Job 26
1. Job, reproving the uncharitable spirit of Bildad
5. acknowledges the power of God to be infinite and unsearchable














How you have counseled
The word "counseled" in this context is derived from the Hebrew root "ya'ats," which means to advise or consult. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, giving counsel was a revered role, often associated with wisdom and experience. Job's use of this term is likely sarcastic, as he challenges the quality of the advice given by his friends. In a broader biblical context, true counsel is often associated with divine wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 19:20-21, where listening to advice and accepting instruction is linked to the fulfillment of God's purpose.

the unwise
The term "unwise" here is translated from the Hebrew word "lo' chochmah," which literally means "without wisdom." In the wisdom literature of the Bible, wisdom is not merely intellectual knowledge but a deep, spiritual understanding that aligns with God's will. Job's friends, in their attempts to explain his suffering, lack this divine wisdom. This phrase underscores the biblical theme that human wisdom is limited and often falls short without divine insight, as echoed in 1 Corinthians 1:25, where the wisdom of God is contrasted with human wisdom.

and provided fully
The phrase "provided fully" suggests completeness and sufficiency. The Hebrew root "male'" conveys the idea of filling or fulfilling. In the context of Job's discourse, it highlights the irony of his friends' claims to have given complete and sufficient advice. Biblically, true fulfillment and completeness are found in God alone, as seen in Colossians 2:10, where believers are described as being made complete in Christ.

sound insight
"Sound insight" is translated from the Hebrew "tushiyyah," which refers to effective wisdom or success. This term is often associated with practical understanding and the ability to apply knowledge rightly. In the book of Job, the irony is that Job's friends believe they possess this sound insight, yet their understanding is flawed. Scripturally, true insight is a gift from God, as seen in James 1:5, where believers are encouraged to ask God for wisdom, who gives generously to all without finding fault.

(3) The thing as it is?--Rather, How hast thou plentifully declared sound knowledge?

Verse 3. - How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? What counsel or advice is there in anything that thou hast said, by following which I might be benefited? Admitting my own want of wisdom, how hast thou bettered my case? And how hast thou plenteously declared the thing as it is? rather, How hast thou plenteously declared sound knowledge? What can there be said to have been in the way of sound knowledge, or good practical common sense (חוּשִׁיָה), in the discourse which thou hast addressed to me? - a discourse made up of truisms.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
How
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you have counseled
יָּ֭עַצְתָּ (yā·‘aṣ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve

the unwise
לְלֹ֣א (lə·lō)
Preposition-l | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and provided
הוֹדָֽעְתָּ׃ (hō·w·ḏā·‘ə·tā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

fully sound
לָרֹ֥ב (lā·rōḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

insight!
וְ֝תוּשִׁיָּ֗ה (wə·ṯū·šî·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8454: Support, ability, help, an undertaking, understanding


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OT Poetry: Job 26:3 How have you counseled him who has (Jb)
Job 26:2
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