Job 22:13

And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

And thou sayest {H559}, How doth God {H410} know {H3045}? can he judge {H8199} through the dark cloud {H6205}?

Yet you say, 'What does God know? Can he see through thick darkness to judge?

Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

Commentary

Job 22:13 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and harshest speech to Job. In this verse, Eliphaz is not quoting Job directly but is attributing cynical and impious thoughts to him. He accuses Job of believing that God is too distant or unaware to truly see and judge human actions, especially those committed in secrecy.

Context

Eliphaz, along with Job's other friends, operates under the traditional retribution theology: suffering is a direct consequence of sin. Since Job is suffering immensely, Eliphaz concludes that Job must be guilty of significant, perhaps hidden, transgressions. Here, Eliphaz implies that Job is questioning God's ability to know all things, especially "through the dark cloud" – a metaphor for God's exalted, perhaps inaccessible, dwelling or for the obscurity of human affairs. This accusation is a stark contrast to Job's actual expressions of trust and bewilderment throughout his trials (Job 13:15).

Key Themes

  • Divine Omniscience: The verse highlights the human tendency to doubt God's perfect knowledge. Eliphaz wrongly imputes to Job the idea that God might be limited in His perception, unable to discern actions or thoughts hidden from human view. The Bible consistently affirms God's unlimited knowledge of all things, including our innermost thoughts and future actions.
  • Divine Justice: Coupled with omniscience, the question "can he judge through the dark cloud?" challenges God's capacity for righteous judgment. If God doesn't know, He cannot judge fairly. This theme underscores the foundational biblical truth that God is indeed a righteous judge who sees all and will render justice according to truth (Romans 2:6).
  • Human Skepticism and Misconception: Eliphaz's words reveal a common human temptation to rationalize sin by questioning God's awareness or involvement. It also exemplifies the friends' profound misunderstanding of Job's character and the nature of his suffering, projecting their own rigid theology onto Job.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "How doth God know?" (Hebrew: 'Ayh yeda' 'El) is a rhetorical question designed to convey doubt or skepticism about God's knowledge. It implies a belief that God is too far removed from earthly affairs to be truly aware of individual actions. The "dark cloud" (Hebrew: 'araphel) often signifies thick darkness or God's hidden presence, as seen at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:21). In this context, Eliphaz uses it to suggest a barrier or obscuring element that might prevent God from seeing or judging clearly, reinforcing his accusation against Job's supposed impiety.

Practical Application

This verse, though an accusation, serves as a powerful reminder of God's attributes:

  • God Sees All: We should never assume that our actions, thoughts, or intentions are hidden from God. He is omnipresent and omniscient, knowing all things, even those done in secret. This truth should inspire both reverence and comfort.
  • Trust in Divine Justice: Even when life seems chaotic or unfair, we can rest assured that God's justice is perfect and His judgment is righteous. He will ultimately make all wrongs right and vindicate the innocent.
  • Beware of Presumption: The narrative of Job cautions against presuming to know the reasons for another's suffering or to fully comprehend God's complex ways (Isaiah 55:9). It encourages humility in our theological interpretations and empathy in our interactions.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:12

    Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

  • Psalms 10:11

    He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].

  • Psalms 73:11

    And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

  • Psalms 59:7

    Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear?

  • Isaiah 29:15

    Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

  • Ezekiel 9:9

    Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

  • Psalms 94:7

    Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard [it].
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