Job 11:6

Job 11:6 presents Zophar the Naamathite's harsh assessment of Job's suffering, claiming it is a manifestation of God's profound wisdom and that Job is actually receiving less punishment than his sins deserve.

Context

This verse comes from the first speech of Zophar, one of Job's three friends who came to comfort him but instead became accusers. While Job vehemently maintains his innocence, Zophar, like Eliphaz and Bildad before him, operates under the prevailing ancient Near Eastern belief in immediate divine retribution – that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin. Zophar's speech (Job 11) is arguably the most severe of the three friends' initial arguments, portraying God as all-knowing and Job as a hidden sinner deserving even greater affliction. To understand Zophar's perspective, it's helpful to review Eliphaz's similar line of reasoning.

Key Themes

• The Incomprehensibility of God's Wisdom: Zophar begins by exalting God's wisdom as deep and mysterious, beyond human understanding. He suggests that if Job truly understood God's wisdom, he would see the justice in his situation. This theme of God's profound wisdom is central to the entire book, though Zophar misapplies it.
• Divine Retribution and Human Sin: Zophar explicitly states that God's justice is so perfect that Job's current suffering is less than his actual iniquity deserves. This highlights the flawed theological framework of Job's friends, who cannot conceive of righteous suffering or God's purposes beyond immediate reward and punishment. The book of Job ultimately challenges this simplistic view, culminating in God's own declarations about His sovereignty and wisdom, as seen in later chapters like Job 38:1.
• Presumed Guilt: Without knowing the true spiritual battle behind Job's trials, Zophar presumes Job's guilt, asserting that God is mercifully holding back full punishment. This is a common human tendency to judge others' suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is!" (Hebrew: כִּפְלַיִם לְתוּשִׁיָּה, kiplayim letushiyah) is challenging to translate precisely. "Double" (kiplayim) can imply twofold, double-sided, or even an intensity or abundance. Many scholars interpret it as God's wisdom being vast, profound, and multifaceted, perhaps having a hidden side or being far more complex than humans perceive. It emphasizes the immense depth of God's knowledge and judgment, which Zophar believes Job cannot fathom.

The word "exacteth" (Hebrew: יַשֶּׁה, yasheh) means to demand, require, or cause to forget. In this context, it suggests God is holding Job accountable, but mercifully demanding less than his due. It implies a divine accounting where a debt is owed, and God, in His wisdom, is not collecting the full amount.

Practical Application

While Zophar's specific accusation against Job is revealed to be false by the end of the book, this verse offers valuable lessons:

• Caution Against Presumptive Judgment: We should be wary of assuming we understand the reasons behind others' suffering, or that suffering is always a direct result of sin. God's ways are often deeper and more complex than our human understanding.
• God's Wisdom is Infinite: The verse reminds us that God's wisdom truly is beyond our comprehension. This should lead to humility and trust, rather than arrogant pronouncements about His dealings with others.
• God's Mercy: Even in Zophar's flawed theology, there's a glimpse of a truth: God's justice is often tempered with mercy. While Zophar misapplies it to Job, the concept that God may "exact less" than we deserve is a profound truth found throughout Scripture, particularly in the concept of God not dealing with us according to our sins.