Job 11:10

KJV

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

KJV (with Strong's)

If he cut off {H2498}, and shut up {H5462}, or gather together {H6950}, then who can hinder {H7725} him?

Complete Jewish Bible

If he passes through, puts in prison and assembles [for judgment], who can prevent him?

Berean Standard Bible

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

American Standard Version

If he pass through, and shut up, And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 11:10, spoken by Zophar the Naamathite, is a forceful rhetorical declaration of God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty. It asserts that if God chooses to act—whether to cut off, shut up, or gather—no human or earthly power can possibly thwart His will or alter His decree. While Zophar applies this truth with a rigid and ultimately flawed understanding of Job's specific suffering, the verse profoundly underscores the divine omnipotence and the futility of resisting the Almighty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 11:10 forms a pivotal part of Zophar's first and most aggressive speech to Job, found in [Job 11](/job/11 "Job 11 - Zophar's First Speech"). Following the arguments of Eliphaz and Bildad, Zophar enters the debate with a less sympathetic and more accusatory tone. He presents himself as speaking on God's behalf, suggesting that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of unconfessed sin, and that God's justice is far too profound for Job to comprehend or question. This verse, with its powerful rhetorical question, serves as a climax to his argument regarding God's unassailable power and Job's perceived insolence in challenging divine wisdom. Zophar's aim is to humble Job by emphasizing the vast chasm between human weakness and divine might.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a region where the concept of divine sovereignty and retribution theology was prevalent. In this cultural milieu, suffering was often directly correlated with sin, and prosperity with righteousness. Zophar's argument reflects this common understanding, where God is seen as an all-powerful deity whose actions are beyond human questioning and whose justice is absolute, even if inscrutable to mortals. The rhetorical question "who can hinder him?" resonates with the widespread belief in the irresistible power of the gods, a power that could bring about both destruction and restoration, and against which no earthly force could stand. This worldview emphasized human dependence and divine autonomy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **God's Absolute Sovereignty**, asserting that God's will is supreme and His actions are unchallengeable, as seen in passages like [Psalm 115:3](/psalm/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - God Does What He Pleases"). Closely related is **Divine Omnipotence**, highlighting God's irresistible power to execute His plans without hindrance, a truth echoed in [Isaiah 43:13](/isaiah/43-13 "Isaiah 43:13 - God's Unhindered Work"). Implicit in Zophar's declaration is also the theme of **Human Helplessness and Limited Understanding** in the face of God's infinite wisdom and power. While Zophar misapplies these truths to Job's specific situation, the core theological affirmations about God's nature remain central to the biblical narrative, challenging human presumption and calling for humble submission to the Creator's ways, as Job himself eventually acknowledges in [Job 42:2](/job/42-2 "Job 42:2 - Job's Confession of God's Power").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _gāzar'_):** The verb גָּזַר (_gāzar_) literally means "to cut," "to cut off," or "to decide." In this context, it implies a decisive act of God, such as severing life, ending a situation, or making an unalterable decree. It conveys finality and absolute authority in judgment or action.
* **Shut up (Hebrew, _sāgar'_):** The verb סָגַר (_sāgar_) means "to shut," "to close," or "to imprison." It suggests God's power to confine, restrict, or enclose, whether referring to people, circumstances, or opportunities. This word emphasizes God's control over freedom and destiny, indicating that when God closes a door, no one can open it, and when He confines, no one can release.
* **Hinder (Hebrew, _shuv'_):** The verb יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ (_yeshîvennû_) is the Hiphil imperfect of שׁוּב (_shuv_), meaning "to turn back," "to return," or "to restore." In the Hiphil, it often means "to cause to return," and in this rhetorical question, "who can hinder him?" it carries the sense of "who can turn him back" or "who can reverse his action?" It powerfully underscores the absolute impossibility of resisting, thwarting, or undoing God's will once He has acted.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If he cut off":** This clause presents a hypothetical scenario where God takes decisive action to sever or end something. It could refer to cutting off life, prosperity, or a line of descendants, signifying God's ultimate power over existence and destiny. The "if" does not imply doubt, but rather sets up the condition for the rhetorical question that follows, emphasizing the consequence of God's action.
* **"and shut up":** Following the previous clause, this expands on God's sovereign control, indicating His ability to confine, imprison, or restrict. This might refer to physical imprisonment, or more broadly, to limiting one's circumstances, opportunities, or freedom of movement. It highlights God's power to control the boundaries and limitations of human experience.
* **"or gather together":** This phrase presents another aspect of God's unhindered power—His ability to assemble, collect, or bring things together for His purposes. This could refer to gathering people for judgment or a specific task, or even gathering resources. It contrasts with "cut off" and "shut up," demonstrating that God's power is not only destructive or restrictive but also constructive and unifying, all according to His will.
* **"then who can hinder him?":** This is the climactic rhetorical question that encapsulates the entire verse's message. It implies that no one—no human, no earthly power, no spiritual entity—possesses the might or authority to oppose, resist, or reverse God's actions. The question expects a resounding "no one," thereby affirming God's absolute and irresistible omnipotence and sovereignty.

#### Literary Devices
Job 11:10 primarily employs a **Rhetorical Question** ("then who can hinder him?") to emphasize God's unchallengeable power. This device is not meant to elicit an answer but to make a forceful assertion, implying that the answer is self-evident and undeniable: no one can hinder God. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism** through the listing of God's actions ("cut off," "shut up," "gather together"). While not strict synonymous or antithetical parallelism, these three verbs illustrate the breadth and scope of God's sovereign control over various aspects of life and destiny, from ending to confining to assembling. This cumulative effect serves as a form of **Emphasis**, demonstrating the totality of divine authority. The starkness of the question following these powerful verbs creates a sense of **Awe** and **Intimidation**, serving Zophar's purpose of highlighting human insignificance before the Almighty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 11:10, despite being spoken by Zophar with a flawed theological framework regarding Job's suffering, powerfully articulates a foundational biblical truth: God's absolute and unassailable sovereignty. This verse underscores that God's will is ultimate, His power is irresistible, and His plans cannot be thwarted by any created being or circumstance. This divine attribute is not merely about raw power but is intrinsically linked to His perfect wisdom and justice, even when His ways are inscrutable to human understanding. It reminds us that our trust in God is rooted in His inherent inability to be hindered, ensuring that His redemptive purposes will ultimately prevail.

* [Isaiah 14:27](/isaiah/14-27 "Isaiah 14:27 - God's Unchangeable Purpose")
* [Daniel 4:35](/daniel/4-35 "Daniel 4:35 - God's Sovereignty Over All")
* [Romans 9:19-20](/romans/9-19-20 "Romans 9:19-20 - God's Unquestionable Authority")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Zophar's application of God's sovereignty to Job's specific situation was deeply flawed and lacked compassion, the core truth of God's unhindered power remains a cornerstone of biblical faith. For believers today, Job 11:10 serves as a profound reminder that our God is not limited by human weakness, opposition, or the chaos of the world. In times of personal suffering, global turmoil, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this verse offers comfort and stability: God is still on the throne, and His purposes will ultimately prevail. It calls us to a posture of humility, acknowledging our finite understanding in the face of His infinite wisdom, and to trust that even when we cannot trace His hand, we can trust His heart. This truth should inspire awe and worship, not fear or fatalism, as it assures us that God is fully capable of bringing His good and perfect will to pass, even through circumstances that seem to contradict it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's unhindered power impact your perspective on personal challenges or global events?**
* **In what ways might a flawed understanding of God's sovereignty lead to unhelpful or even harmful conclusions, as seen in Zophar's speech?**
* **How can the truth that "no one can hinder him" bring comfort and peace in times of uncertainty or fear?**
* **What practical implications does God's absolute sovereignty have for your prayer life and your willingness to surrender control?**

### FAQ

**Was Zophar correct in his assessment of Job's suffering based on this verse?**

Answer: No, Zophar was fundamentally incorrect in his assessment of Job's suffering. While Job 11:10 accurately declares God's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence, Zophar, like Job's other friends, rigidly applied a retribution theology that assumed all suffering was a direct punishment for specific sin. The Book of Job, as a whole, challenges and ultimately refutes this simplistic view, demonstrating that righteous individuals can suffer, and that God's ways are far more complex and multifaceted than human logic can grasp. The verse speaks truth about God's power, but Zophar's interpretation and application of that truth to Job were flawed, lacking compassion and failing to understand the deeper purposes of God, which are revealed later in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The unhindered power of God declared in Job 11:10 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God's sovereign plan of redemption, conceived before the foundation of the world, could not be thwarted by human sin, demonic opposition, or the power of death itself. The incarnation of God in Christ ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")) was an unhindered act of divine will. His perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and glorious resurrection were all part of God's unchallengeable purpose to reconcile humanity to Himself ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). No power could prevent Christ's resurrection from the dead ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus")), demonstrating God's ultimate victory over sin and death. Today, the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in drawing people to faith and transforming lives is an extension of this same unhindered divine power ([Philippians 1:6](/ philippians/1-6 "Philippians 1:6 - God's Faithfulness to Complete His Work")). The final establishment of God's kingdom and Christ's victorious return will likewise be an unstoppable act of God's sovereignty, proving that indeed, when God cuts off the old, shuts up the forces of evil, and gathers His elect, "who can hinder him?" ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes the Kingdom of Our Lord")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 9:12

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

Job 9:13

[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Revelation 3:7

¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Job 12:14

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

Deuteronomy 32:30

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

Job 38:8

Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?

Psalms 31:8

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.