Job 17:10

KJV

¶ But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find [one] wise [man] among you.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {H199} as for you all, do ye return {H7725}, and come now {H935}: for I cannot find {H4672} one wise {H2450} man among you.

Complete Jewish Bible

"But as for you all, turn around! Come back! -yet I won't find a wise man among you.

Berean Standard Bible

But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

American Standard Version

But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 17:10 powerfully encapsulates Job's profound exasperation and disillusionment with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. After enduring immense suffering and their relentless, unhelpful counsel, Job issues a desperate challenge for them to reconsider their rigid theological stance, asserting with biting clarity that he finds no genuine wisdom or discerning insight among them regarding his inexplicable plight. This verse serves as a climactic declaration of their intellectual and spiritual inadequacy in the face of his unique and profound suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 17 is situated within the third cycle of dialogues between Job and his friends, a cycle that increasingly devolves into Job's monologues as the friends' arguments become repetitive and unconvincing. This chapter immediately follows [Job 16](/job/16 "Job 16 - Job's Lament and Accusation of His Friends"), where Job vividly describes his physical and emotional torment, explicitly labeling his companions "miserable comforters." [Job 17](/job/17 "Job 17 - Job's Despair and Plea for Vindication") deepens Job's despair, expressing his longing for death, his sense of isolation, and his fervent appeal for vindication before God. Verse 10 acts as a climactic, direct retort to their persistent accusations and perceived arrogance, highlighting the utter failure of their conventional wisdom to address his unique suffering. It sets the stage for Job's continued assertions of innocence and his profound questioning of divine justice, leading ultimately to the climactic speeches of Elihu and God Himself in later chapters, particularly from [Job 38 onwards](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech from the Whirlwind").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a non-Israelite locale, which underscores the universal nature of its themes concerning suffering and divine justice. The friends represent the prevailing wisdom traditions of the ancient Near East, which often adhered to a strict retribution theology: suffering was understood as a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity as a reward for righteousness. This belief system, while present in various forms even within Israelite wisdom literature (e.g., [the Book of Proverbs](/proverbs/1 "The Book of Proverbs - Wisdom and Instruction")), proves utterly inadequate when confronted with Job's blameless suffering. Culturally, friends were expected to offer comfort and solidarity in times of grief, but Job's companions, by rigidly applying their theological framework, transformed from comforters into accusers, failing to provide the empathy and nuanced understanding Job desperately needed in his profound distress.
* **Key Themes:** Job 17:10 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book. Firstly, it powerfully underscores **The Insufficiency of Human Wisdom** in comprehending divine purposes, particularly in the face of inexplicable suffering. The friends' counsel, though rooted in traditional piety, is exposed as shallow and unhelpful, highlighting the limitations of human reason and conventional theology when confronted with God's mysterious ways. This theme is central to the entire narrative, culminating in God's speeches from the whirlwind (e.g., [Job 38:1-41](/job/38-1-41 "Job 38:1-41 - God Challenges Job")), which demonstrate the vast chasm between human understanding and divine sovereignty. Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Job's Isolation and Despair**, as even those closest to him fail to offer true comfort, instead offering condemnation, leaving him profoundly alone in his ordeal. Lastly, it points to **The Search for True Understanding**, as Job yearns for genuine wisdom and discernment beyond mere platitudes or accusations, implicitly seeking a wisdom that aligns with God's true character and complex ways, a wisdom that ultimately only God can provide, as seen in [Job 28:28](/job/28-28 "Job 28:28 - The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **But (Hebrew, _ʼûwlâm'_):** This conjunction introduces a strong contrast or opposition. In Job 17:10, it signals a sharp pivot from Job's previous laments and appeals to God, redirecting his focus and frustration squarely onto his friends. It functions as a defiant "however" or "on the contrary," emphasizing Job's firm stance against their arguments and setting the stage for his direct accusation. It highlights the irreconcilable difference between Job's perception of his suffering and his friends' rigid theological explanations.
* **Return (Hebrew, _shûwb'_):** This primitive root signifies turning back, often implying a change of direction, repentance, or reconsideration. Job's imperative "do ye return" is a desperate plea for his friends to abandon their current, unhelpful course of action and thought. It is a demand for them to "turn away" from their rigid, accusatory stance and "turn back" to a posture of genuine empathy, humility, or even silence. It is not necessarily a call for moral repentance, but for an intellectual and relational reorientation, urging them to reconsider their flawed theological premises and their uncompassionate approach to his suffering.
* **Find (Hebrew, _mâtsâʼ'_):** This verb means to come forth to, appear, exist, or attain, implying discovery or acquisition. When Job states, "I cannot find," he is expressing a complete absence or inability to perceive any true wisdom among his friends. It's not merely that he disagrees with them, but that their words utterly fail to meet the standard of genuine insight or discernment. This word underscores the emptiness and futility of their counsel from Job's perspective, highlighting his profound disappointment in their inability to offer anything of substance or comfort.
* **Wise (Hebrew, _châkâm'_):** In biblical wisdom literature, _chakham_ denotes more than mere intellectual knowledge; it encompasses practical skill, discernment, and insightful understanding, often deeply rooted in moral and spiritual perception, and ultimately derived from God. When Job declares he cannot find one _chakham_ among them, he is not questioning their intelligence per se, but rather their ability to apply true, God-given wisdom to his unique situation. Their failure lies in their inability to grasp the profound mystery of God's sovereignty beyond simplistic, cause-and-effect explanations of suffering, thus demonstrating a critical lack of genuine spiritual insight and discernment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But as for you all, do ye return, and come now:"** This opening clause is a direct, confrontational address from Job to his three friends, emphasizing their collective failure and the futility of their ongoing arguments. The double imperative, "return, and come now," conveys Job's profound exasperation and serves as a desperate challenge. It is an invitation, tinged with sarcasm and bitterness, for them to re-evaluate their unhelpful positions, to perhaps come back to a place of genuine empathy or to admit the inadequacy of their arguments. It underscores Job's frustration with their circular reasoning and persistent, unfounded accusations, urging them to change their approach.
* **"for I cannot find [one] wise [man] among you."** This is the devastating indictment that follows Job's challenge, providing the reason for his demand that they "return." He unequivocally declares that despite their lengthy speeches, their claims of traditional wisdom, and their self-assured pronouncements, not a single one of them possesses the true wisdom required to understand his plight. Their counsel has proven utterly devoid of genuine insight, compassion, or a nuanced comprehension of God's complex ways. This statement highlights the profound inadequacy of human wisdom and rigid theological frameworks when confronted with the mystery of suffering and the inscrutability of divine sovereignty.

#### Literary Devices
Job 17:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey Job's intense frustration and the depth of his despair. The most prominent is **Direct Address**, as Job turns his full attention to his friends, using the collective "you all" to underscore their shared failure and to deliver a personal, cutting rebuke. This direct confrontation intensifies the personal nature of his lament and accusation. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the friends came ostensibly as "comforters," claiming to possess divine wisdom and understanding of God's ways, yet Job finds them utterly devoid of it. This creates a stark contrast between their supposed role and their actual impact, where those expected to provide solace inflict further pain through their misguided counsel. The verse is also a poignant expression of **Lament** and **Protest**, encapsulating Job's deep sorrow over his situation and his passionate protest against the injustice he feels, both from God and from his companions. Finally, Job's declaration of "not one wise man" could be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, used to emphasize the complete and utter failure of their collective wisdom in the specific, agonizing context of his suffering, highlighting his profound sense of intellectual and spiritual isolation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 17:10 serves as a powerful testament to the limitations of human wisdom when confronted with the mysteries of divine sovereignty and suffering. The friends represent a rigid, conventional theology that attempts to neatly categorize God's actions into a simplistic retribution framework, failing to account for the complexities of His character and purposes. Job's desperate cry for a "wise man" highlights the profound human need for a wisdom that transcends mere intellectual knowledge or inherited tradition—a wisdom rooted in a deeper, more nuanced understanding of God's ways, particularly when His actions seem inscrutable. This sets the stage for the book's ultimate resolution, where true wisdom is revealed to originate solely from God, often in ways that defy human comprehension, challenging us to embrace humility and trust in His unfathomable plan rather than relying on our limited understanding or simplistic explanations.

* [Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom")
* [1 Corinthians 1:20](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20 - God Makes the Wisdom of the World Foolish")
* [James 3:17](/james/3-17 "James 3:17 - The Nature of Heavenly Wisdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 17:10 offers profound lessons for believers today, particularly in how we approach suffering, offer counsel, and discern true wisdom. It reminds us that when comforting those in distress, our primary posture should be one of deep empathy, humility, and active listening, rather than quick judgments or simplistic theological answers. Not all suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and sometimes the most profound "wisdom" we can offer is simply our compassionate presence and a willingness to sit with another's pain without attempting to "fix" it or explain it away. Furthermore, Job's desperate search for a wise man challenges us to continually seek God's wisdom, which often transcends human logic and conventional understanding. True discernment comes from the Holy Spirit and a deep immersion in God's Word, enabling us to offer counsel that is truly helpful, compassionate, and aligned with divine truth, rather than merely echoing human traditions or rigid frameworks. We must also cultivate discernment regarding the advice we receive, testing it against Scripture and seeking the Spirit's guidance, recognizing that even well-intentioned counsel can sometimes be "unwise" or unhelpful in the face of complex realities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I respond when conventional wisdom or simplistic theological explanations fail to account for my suffering or the suffering of others?**
* **In what ways might I, like Job's friends, inadvertently offer "unwise" counsel by prioritizing rigid theological frameworks over genuine empathy and humble listening?**
* **What does it truly mean to seek and apply God's wisdom (as opposed to merely human knowledge) in the complex and often painful situations of life?**

### FAQ
**Why does Job say "not one wise man" among his friends? Were they truly foolish?**

Answer: Job's statement reflects his profound disillusionment and the emotional peak of his suffering, rather than a literal assessment of his friends' intelligence or general wisdom. While his friends were likely respected figures who held traditional, albeit rigid, theological views, their wisdom proved utterly inadequate for Job's unique and inexplicable situation. They applied a simplistic retribution theology (suffering = sin) that failed to account for Job's blamelessness and God's sovereign, often mysterious, purposes. Job's accusation isn't necessarily that they lacked all intellectual capacity or knowledge of their tradition, but that they lacked the true, compassionate, and nuanced wisdom required to understand his suffering. Their counsel, though perhaps well-intentioned from their perspective, became a source of further pain and demonstrated a critical lack of divine insight in this specific context, making them "unwise" in the most crucial sense for Job. This highlights the book's broader theme that [the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge"), implying a humility before God's inscrutability that the friends lacked.

**What is the "wisdom" Job is looking for?**

Answer: Job is looking for a wisdom that transcends simplistic, cause-and-effect explanations of suffering. He desires an understanding that acknowledges the mystery of God's ways, offers genuine empathy, and perhaps even provides a pathway to vindication or a deeper understanding of his suffering's purpose. It's a wisdom rooted in a profound knowledge of God's character and purposes, beyond mere human tradition or theological formulas. This aligns with the broader biblical understanding of wisdom as not just intellectual knowledge, but spiritual discernment, moral insight, and the practical application of truth, often associated with the fear of the Lord and a humble recognition of God's inscrutability. He seeks a wisdom that can truly comfort and clarify, not merely condemn, a wisdom that ultimately only God possesses and reveals (cf. [Job 28:20-28](/job/28-20-28 "Job 28:20-28 - Where Can Wisdom Be Found?")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry in Job 17:10 for "one wise man" among his friends, someone who could truly understand and offer genuine insight into his inexplicable suffering, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Job's friends, though well-intentioned, offered only human wisdom—a rigid, inadequate theology that condemned rather than comforted. In stark contrast, Jesus is the very embodiment of divine wisdom, the [wisdom of God made manifest](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God") and in whom [are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom"). Unlike Job's friends, who speculated from afar, Jesus is the suffering servant who truly understands inexplicable pain, having [Himself been despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - He Was Despised and Rejected by Men"). He offers not condemnation, but perfect counsel, profound empathy, and ultimate vindication for the righteous sufferer. He is the "one wise man" who not only comprehends but also redeems suffering, transforming it through His cross and resurrection, offering a wisdom that transcends all human understanding and brings true healing, hope, and the promise that [for those who love God all things work together for good](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good"). He is our great High Priest who can [sympathize with our weaknesses](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Our High Priest"), having been tempted in every way, yet without sin.

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 42:7

¶ And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].

Job 6:29

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.

Job 17:4

For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].

Job 15:9

What knowest thou, that we know not? [what] understandest thou, which [is] not in us?

1 Corinthians 6:5

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

1 Corinthians 1:20

Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Job 32:9

Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.