Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up? New Living Translation Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused? English Standard Version Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? Berean Standard Bible Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up? King James Bible Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. New King James Version Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up. New American Standard Bible “Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up? NASB 1995 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up? NASB 1977 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up? Legacy Standard Bible Shall it be recounted to Him that I would speak? If a man says a word, will He indeed be swallowed up? Amplified Bible “So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up [and destroyed by God]? Christian Standard Bible Should he be told that I want to speak? Can a man speak when he is confused? Holman Christian Standard Bible Should He be told that I want to speak? Can a man speak when he is confused? American Standard Version Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? Contemporary English Version Should I risk my life by telling God that I want to speak? English Revised Version Shall it be told him that I would speak? or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? GOD'S WORD® Translation Should he be told that I want to speak? Can a person speak when he is confused? Good News Translation I won't ask to speak with God; why should I give him a chance to destroy me? International Standard Version Has it been relayed to God that I want to talk? Can a person speak when he is confused?" Majority Standard Bible Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up? NET Bible Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up! New Heart English Bible Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? Webster's Bible Translation Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man shall speak, surely he will be swallowed up. World English Bible Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIs it declared to Him that I speak? If a man has spoken, surely he is swallowed up. Young's Literal Translation Is it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up. Smith's Literal Translation Shall it be recounted to him that I shall speak? If a man spake, then shall he be swallowed down. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho shall tell him the things I speak? even if a man shall speak, he shall be swallowed up. Catholic Public Domain Version Who will explain to him the things that I am saying? Even while a man is still speaking, he will be devoured. New American Bible Will he be told about it when I speak? Can anyone talk when he is being destroyed? New Revised Standard Version Should he be told that I want to speak? Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleRelate to him that which he has said; and if a man speaks, surely he shall be consumed. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I shall tell him what I shall say, and if a man will speak, he would be swallowed up OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? Brenton Septuagint Translation Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty…19Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness. 20Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up? 21Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.… Cross References Job 9:3 If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. Job 15:14-16 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? / If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, / how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water? Job 33:12-13 Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. / Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? Job 40:4-5 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth. / I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.” Job 42:3 You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Psalm 19:12 Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count. Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:17-18 How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God, how vast is their sum! / If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; and when I awake, I am still with You. 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? 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. Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps. 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 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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. Treasury of Scripture Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. Shall it Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Matthew 12:36,37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment… surely Job 6:3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. Job 11:7,8 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? … Jump to Previous Declared Desire Destruction Speak Surely Swallowed Talk Want WishJump to Next Declared Desire Destruction Speak Surely Swallowed Talk Want WishJob 37 1. God is to be feared because of his great works15. His wisdom is unsearchable in them Should He be told that I want to speak? This phrase reflects the humility and reverence one should have when approaching God. In the context of Job, Elihu is speaking, emphasizing the majesty and sovereignty of God. The rhetorical question suggests that it is presumptuous for a human to demand an audience with the Almighty. This echoes the broader biblical theme of God's transcendence and the appropriate posture of humility before Him, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. The cultural context of the Ancient Near East often depicted gods as distant and unapproachable, yet the God of Israel invites relationship, though with reverence and awe. Would a man ask to be swallowed up? Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and suffering. 2. Elihu A young man who speaks to Job and his friends, offering a perspective on God's majesty and justice. Job 37 is part of Elihu's discourse. 3. God The Almighty Creator, whose wisdom and power are beyond human understanding. Elihu speaks of God's greatness in this chapter. 4. The Heavens Often referenced in Job 37, symbolizing God's majesty and the natural order He controls. 5. The Whirlwind A symbol of God's presence and power, which will later be the medium through which God speaks to Job. Teaching Points The Majesty of GodRecognize that God's wisdom and power are beyond our comprehension. We should approach Him with humility and reverence. Human Limitations Understand that our perspective is limited. We should trust in God's greater plan, even when we do not understand our circumstances. The Importance of Listening Before speaking or questioning God, we should listen and seek to understand His will and purpose. The Role of Suffering Consider how suffering can lead us to a deeper understanding of God's character and our dependence on Him. Approaching God with Reverence When we desire to speak to God, we should do so with a heart of submission, acknowledging His sovereignty.(20) Be swallowed up.--The sense will vary, according as we understand this of God or of the sun. In the first case, it is a simple expression of awe at God's majesty: "Shall it be told Him that I would speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up;" but unquestionably the sense is clearer if we understand it of the sun: "Shall it be told of him? Shall I, indeed, speak it? or hath any man ever ventured to say, in such a case, that the sun is swallowed up, extinguished?"Verse 20. - Shall it be told him that I speak? rather, that I would speak (comp. Job 31:35). Job had expressed the wish that God would "hear him, and answer him." Elihu, intending to rebuke this presumption, yet shrinking from doing so directly, puts himself in Job's place, and asks, "Would it be fitting that I should demand to speak with God?" If not, it cannot be fitting that Job should do so. If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. This is probably the true meaning, though another has been suggested by some commentators, who prefer to render, "Or should a man wish that he were destroyed?" (So Ewald, Dillmann, Canon Cook, and our Revisers.) If we adopt this rendering, we must understand Elihu as appending to his first rebuke a second, levelled against Job's desire to have his life ended. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Should He be toldהַֽיְסֻפַּר־ (hay·sup·par-) Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate that כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I want to speak? אֲדַבֵּ֑ר (’ă·ḏab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue Would a man אִ֝֗ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person ask אָ֥מַר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to be swallowed up? יְבֻלָּֽע׃ (yə·ḇul·lā‘) Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf Links Job 37:20 NIVJob 37:20 NLT Job 37:20 ESV Job 37:20 NASB Job 37:20 KJV Job 37:20 BibleApps.com Job 37:20 Biblia Paralela Job 37:20 Chinese Bible Job 37:20 French Bible Job 37:20 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 37:20 Shall it be told him that (Jb) |
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