Teach me, and I will be silent.
In this phrase, Job expresses a willingness to learn and be corrected, highlighting his humility and openness to divine instruction. This reflects the biblical principle found in Proverbs 9:9, "Instruct the wise, and they will be wiser still." Job's plea for teaching underscores the importance of wisdom and understanding in the Hebrew tradition, where learning from God is seen as a path to righteousness. The cultural context of the Ancient Near East placed high value on wisdom literature, and Job's request aligns with this tradition. His silence upon receiving instruction can be seen as a form of submission and reverence, akin to the silence of the prophets when receiving God's word.

Help me understand how I have erred.
Job's request for understanding his errors is a profound acknowledgment of human fallibility and the need for divine insight. This mirrors the sentiment in Psalm 139:23-24, where the psalmist asks God to search and know their heart, revealing any offensive way. Job's desire for clarity on his mistakes is not just a personal plea but reflects a broader theological theme of repentance and the pursuit of holiness. In the historical context, Job's friends have accused him of wrongdoing, yet he seeks God's perspective rather than human judgment. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament teaching of Jesus, who emphasized the importance of recognizing one's sins and seeking forgiveness, as seen in passages like Matthew 5:23-24. Job's quest for understanding can be seen as a type of Christ, who embodies perfect wisdom and offers ultimate understanding and redemption to humanity.

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and seeking understanding.

2. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar
Job's three friends who come to comfort him but end up engaging in a series of dialogues, often accusing Job of wrongdoing as the cause of his suffering.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.

4. God
The ultimate authority and source of wisdom, whom Job seeks to understand through his trials.

5. Suffering and Dialogue
The context of Job's plea in this verse is a larger dialogue about the nature of suffering, justice, and divine wisdom.The Humility to Learn
Job's request, "Teach me, and I will be silent," demonstrates a humble heart willing to listen and learn. In our own lives, we should cultivate a similar attitude, especially in times of confusion or suffering.

Seeking Understanding
Job's plea for help to understand his errors highlights the importance of seeking God's wisdom and insight into our lives. We should regularly ask God to reveal areas where we need growth or correction.

The Role of Silence
Job's willingness to be silent indicates the value of quiet reflection and listening in our spiritual journey. In a world full of noise, taking time to be silent before God can lead to deeper understanding and peace.

The Importance of Corrective Guidance
Job's openness to correction is a reminder that God's discipline is an expression of His love. We should not resist correction but embrace it as a path to spiritual maturity.

Trusting God's Wisdom
Even when we do not understand our circumstances, trusting in God's greater wisdom and plan is crucial. Job's account encourages us to maintain faith in God's goodness and sovereignty.Verse 24. - Teach me, and I will hold my tongue. Job is willing to be taught, if his friends have any instruction to give. He is willing to be reproved. But not in such sort as he has been reproved by Eliphas. His words were not "words of uprightness." Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Point out, that is, in what my assumed guilt consists. You maintain that my afflictions are deserved. Point out what in my conduct has deserved them. I am quite ready to be convinced.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Teach me,
ה֭וֹרוּנִי (hō·w·rū·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

and I
וַאֲנִ֣י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will be silent.
אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ (’a·ḥă·rîš)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

Help me understand
הָבִ֥ינוּ (hā·ḇî·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

how
וּמַה־ (ū·ma·hō·šā-)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

I have erred.
שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי (ḡî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7686: To stray, to mistake, to transgress, to reel, be enraptured


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OT Poetry: Job 6:24 Teach me and I will hold my (Jb)