Job 11:9

The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

The measure {H4055} thereof is longer {H752} than the earth {H776}, and broader {H7342} than the sea {H3220}.

Their extent is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

Commentary

Job 11:9 is a profound statement from Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's three friends, attempting to articulate the vastness of God's wisdom and understanding. In this verse, Zophar uses vivid imagery to convey the immeasurable nature of divine knowledge, asserting that it extends beyond the very dimensions of the earth and the sea.

Context

This verse is part of Zophar's first speech to Job, found in Job chapter 11. Zophar, like Eliphaz and Bildad, believes that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of sin, and that God's justice is perfectly aligned with human actions. He argues that Job's understanding of God is limited, and that God's wisdom is utterly beyond human comprehension. Specifically, Job 11:9 builds on the rhetorical questions posed in Job 11:7-8, which ask if humans can truly discover the deep things of God or fully understand the Almighty. Zophar concludes that God's wisdom is unfathomable, making any human attempt to fully grasp it futile.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omniscience and Incomprehensibility: The primary message is the infinite and immeasurable nature of God's knowledge and understanding. It suggests that God's wisdom cannot be confined by human dimensions or fully grasped by the human mind.
  • Human Limitations: The verse highlights the vast chasm between finite human understanding and infinite divine wisdom. It underscores humanity's inability to fully comprehend God's ways, His justice, or His purposes.
  • God's Majesty and Sovereignty: By portraying God's wisdom as boundless, Zophar implicitly emphasizes God's supreme authority and majesty over all creation. His knowledge is not merely vast; it is foundational to His governance of the universe.
  • The Depth of Wisdom: The imagery of "longer than the earth, and broader than the sea" poetically expresses the profound depth and extent of God's wisdom, suggesting it is not merely intellectual but encompasses all reality.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "measure" is middah (ΧžΦ΄Χ“ΦΌΦΈΧ”), which refers to a dimension, extent, or proportion. The use of this term here, combined with the subsequent comparisons, emphasizes the *immeasurability* of God's understanding. The phrases "longer than the earth" and "broader than the sea" are powerful examples of poetic hyperbole, a common literary device in biblical wisdom literature. They are not meant to be taken literally as physical measurements but are vivid metaphors to convey the infinite, boundless nature of God's wisdom and knowledge, transcending all earthly bounds.

Practical Application

For believers today, Job 11:9 serves as a powerful reminder of God's infinite wisdom and our own limitations. It encourages a posture of humility and reverence before the Almighty. When faced with life's inexplicable sufferings, confusing circumstances, or unanswered questions, this verse calls us to trust in God's perfect plan, even when we cannot fully comprehend it. Just as Isaiah 55:8-9 declares God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, Zophar's words here invite us to rest in the sovereignty of a God whose understanding is truly infinite (Psalm 147:5). It offers comfort knowing that God's knowledge encompasses every detail, even those beyond our grasp, providing a foundation for faith in His ultimate goodness and justice.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 139:9

    [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

  • Psalms 139:10

    Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

  • Job 28:24

    For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;

  • Job 28:25

    To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

  • Psalms 65:5

    [By] terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; [who art] the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off [upon] the sea:

  • Psalms 65:8

    They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
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