Job 26:4 Study Bible: To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came forth from you?

◄ Job 26:4 ►

To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?

To whom have you uttered these words?
This phrase is part of Job's response to Bildad, one of his friends who has been offering counsel. Job challenges the relevance and originality of Bildad's words, questioning their intended audience and impact. In the broader context of the Book of Job, this reflects the ongoing debate between Job and his friends about the nature of suffering and divine justice. Job's rhetorical question implies that Bildad's words lack divine insight and are not truly helpful. This can be connected to the broader biblical theme of discerning true wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 2:6, which states that the Lord gives wisdom. The phrase also invites reflection on the source and purpose of our words, echoing the New Testament teaching in James 3:5-6 about the power of the tongue.

And whose spirit spoke through you?
Here, Job questions the spiritual authority behind Bildad's statements. This implies a discernment of spirits, a theme that is echoed in 1 John 4:1, which advises believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Job's question suggests that Bildad's counsel may not be inspired by the Holy Spirit but rather by human or even demonic influence, as seen in the broader biblical narrative where false prophets speak from their own spirit (Ezekiel 13:2-3). This phrase also points to the importance of divine inspiration in delivering true wisdom, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:16, which affirms that all Scripture is God-breathed. In the context of Job, this question underscores the need for divine revelation to understand the mysteries of suffering and God's purposes, foreshadowing the ultimate revelation of truth in Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man known for his righteousness and suffering. In this chapter, Job responds to his friends' counsel.

2. Bildad
One of Job's three friends who attempts to explain Job's suffering by suggesting it is due to sin. Job 26 is part of Job's response to Bildad's speech in the previous chapter.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel. It serves as the setting for the events of the Book of Job.

4. God
The ultimate authority and sovereign being, whose wisdom and power are central themes in the Book of Job.

5. The Spirit
Refers to the influence or inspiration behind the words spoken, questioning whether they are divinely inspired or not.

Teaching Points

Discernment of Words
Believers should be discerning about the words they hear and speak, ensuring they align with God's truth.

Source of Inspiration
It is crucial to consider the source of our inspiration and counsel, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit rather than human wisdom alone.

Impact of Speech
Our words have the power to build up or tear down. We should strive to speak life and truth, reflecting God's character.

Accountability in Counsel
When offering advice, we must be accountable for ensuring it is biblically sound and not based on personal bias or misunderstanding.

Seeking God's Wisdom
In times of confusion or suffering, seek God's wisdom through prayer and scripture, rather than relying solely on human understanding.

Bible Study Questions

1. How can we discern whether the words we hear are inspired by God's Spirit or another source?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our speech aligns with biblical truth and reflects God's character?

3. How does the context of Job's suffering influence his response to his friends' counsel in Job 26:4?

4. What practical steps can we take to test the spirits, as advised in 1 John 4:1, in our daily lives?

5. How can the teachings in James 3:5-6 about the power of the tongue inform our approach to giving and receiving counsel?

Connections to Other Scriptures

1 John 4:1
This verse advises believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, which connects to Job's questioning of the spirit behind his friends' words.

Proverbs 18:21
Highlights the power of words, which relates to Job's inquiry about the source and impact of his friends' speech.

James 3:5-6
Discusses the tongue's potential for great harm, echoing Job's concern about the influence of his friends' words.

Sermons

Praises of the Eternal	E. Johnson	Job 26:1-14
The Transcendent Greatness of God	Homilist	Job 26:1-14
Cruel Reproof Helps not the Sufferer	R. Green	Job 26:2-4

People

Abaddon, Job, Rahab

Places

Topics

Breath, Declared, Expressed, Forth, Hast, Mouth, Spirit, Spoke, Utter, Uttered

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Job 26:3

8281 insight

Library

Mosaic Cosmogony.
ON the revival of science in the 16th century, some of the earliest conclusions at which philosophers arrived were found to be at variance with popular and long-established belief. The Ptolemaic system of astronomy, which had then full possession of the minds of men, contemplated the whole visible universe from the earth as the immovable centre of things. Copernicus changed the point of view, and placing the beholder in the sun, at once reduced the earth to an inconspicuous globule, a merely subordinate …
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

The Principle of Life in the Creature.
"By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent."-- Job xxvi. 13. We have seen that the work of the Holy Spirit consists in leading all creation to its destiny, the final purpose of which is the glory of God. However, God's glory in creation appears in various degrees and ways. An insect and a star, the mildew on the wall and the cedar on Lebanon, a common laborer and a man like Augustine, are all the creatures of God; yet how dissimilar they are, and how varied …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Whether Fear Remains in Heaven
Whether Fear Remains in Heaven We proceed to the eleventh article thus: 1. It seems that fear does not remain in heaven. For it is said in Prov. 1:33: " . . . shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil," and this is to be understood as referring to those who already enjoy wisdom in eternal blessedness. Now all fear is fear of evil, since evil is the object of fear, as was said in Arts. 2 and 5, and in 12ae, Q. 42, Art. 1. There will therefore be no fear in heaven. 2. Again, in heaven …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether the virtues of Heaven Will be Moved when Our Lord Shall Come?
Objection 1: It would seem that the virtues of heaven will not be moved when our Lord shall come. For the virtues of heaven can de. note only the blessed angels. Now immobility is essential to blessedness. Therefore it will be impossible for them to be moved. Objection 2: Further, ignorance is the cause of wonder (Metaph. i, 2). Now ignorance, like fear, is far from the angels, for as Gregory says (Dial. iv, 33; Moral. ii, 3), "what do they not see, who see Him Who sees all." Therefore it will be …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Wisdom is the Greatest of the Intellectual virtues?
Objection 1: It would seem that wisdom is not the greatest of the intellectual virtues. Because the commander is greater than the one commanded. Now prudence seems to command wisdom, for it is stated in Ethic. i, 2 that political science, which belongs to prudence (Ethic. vi, 8), "orders that sciences should be cultivated in states, and to which of these each individual should devote himself, and to what extent." Since, then, wisdom is one of the sciences, it seems that prudence is greater than wisdom. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Power of the Holy Ghost
We shall look at the power of the Holy Ghost in three ways this morning. First, the outward and visible displays of it; second, the inward and spiritual manifestations of it; and third, the future and expected works thereof. The power of the Spirit will thus, I trust, be made clearly present to your souls. I. First, then, we are to view the power of the Spirit in the OUTWARD AND VISIBLE DISPLAYS OF IT. The power of the Sprit has not been dormant; it has exerted itself. Much has been done by the Spirit …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

That the Self-Existent Being must be All-Powerful.
The self-existent being, the supreme cause of all things, must of necessity have infinite power.--This proposition is evident, and undeniable. For since nothing (as has been already proved,) can possibly be self-existent, besides himself; and consequently all things in the universe were made by him, and are entirely dependent upon him; and all the powers of all things are derived from him, and must therefore be perfectly subject and subordinate to him; it is manifest that nothing can make any difficulty …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

"Seek First the Kingdom of God," &C.
Matt. vi. 33.--"Seek first the kingdom of God," &c. It may seem strange, that when so great things are allowed, and so small things are denied, that we do not seek them. The kingdom of God and his righteousness are great things indeed, great not only in themselves, but greater in comparison of us. The things of this world, even great events, are but poor, petty, and inconsiderable matters, when compared with these. Yet he graciously allows a larger measure of these great things relating to his kingdom …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Host of Heaven and of Earth.
"The Spirit of God hath made me."--Job xxxiii. 4. Understanding somewhat the characteristic note of the work of the Holy Spirit, let us see what this work was and is and shall be. The Father brings forth, the Son disposes and arranges, the Holy Spirit perfects. There is one God and Father of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things; but what does the Scripture say of the special work the Holy Spirit did in creation and is still doing? For the sake of order we examine …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

God Incomprehensible and Sovereign.
1 Can creatures to perfection find [1] Th' eternal uncreated mind? Or can the largest stretch of thought Measure and search his nature out? 2 'Tis high as heaven, 'tis deep as hell, And what can mortals know or tell? His glory spreads beyond the sky, And all the shining worlds on high. 3 But man, vain man, would fain be wise, Born like a wild young colt he flies Thro' all the follies of his mind, And swells and snuffs the empty wind. 4 God is a King of power unknown, Firm are the orders of his throne; …
Isaac Watts—Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Christian Perfection
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect." Phil. 3:12. 1. There is scarce any expression in Holy Writ which has given more offence than this. The word perfect is what many cannot bear. The very sound of it is an abomination to them. And whosoever preaches perfection (as the phrase is,) that is, asserts that it is attainable in this life, runs great hazard of being accounted by them worse than a heathen man or a publican. 2. And hence some have advised, wholly to lay aside …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Of Creation
Heb. xi. 3.--"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."--Gen. i. 1. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." We are come down from the Lord's purposes and decrees to the execution of them, which is partly in the works of creation and partly in the works of providence. The Lord having resolved upon it to manifest his own glory did in that due and predeterminate time apply his …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Epistle iv. To Cyriacus, Bishop.
To Cyriacus, Bishop. Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople. We have received with becoming charity our common sons, George the presbyter and Theodore your deacon; and we rejoice that you have passed from the care of ecclesiastical business to the government of souls, since, according to the voice of the Truth, He that is faithful in a little will be faithful also in much (Luke xvi. 10). And to the servant who administers well it is said, Because thou hast been faithful over a few things, …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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