Job 34:23

For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God.

For he will not lay {H7760} upon man {H376} more than right; that he should enter {H1980} into judgment {H4941} with God {H410}.

for he doesn't give warning to people when they must appear before God in judgment.

For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

Job 34:23 is part of Elihu's discourse, where he defends God's absolute righteousness and justice against Job's laments. Elihu, a younger man, steps forward to offer his perspective after Job's three friends have failed to convince Job or resolve the theological dilemma of suffering.

Context of Job 34:23

This verse is found within Elihu's first speech (Job 32-37), specifically in Job chapter 34, where he addresses Job directly. Elihu argues that God is too great and just to act wickedly or pervert justice. He asserts that God needs no trial or explanation for His actions, unlike Job who has repeatedly expressed a desire to plead his case before God (Job 13:3). Elihu's core argument here is that God's ways are always right, and He does not impose burdens unjustly or without reason.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice and Equity: The verse emphasizes that God "will not lay upon man more [than right]." This means God never burdens humanity beyond what is just or deserved, nor does He act arbitrarily. His dealings are always fair and righteous, even when they are mysterious to human understanding. This is a foundational aspect of God's character throughout Scripture, affirming His righteous judgment.
  • God's Unquestionable Sovereignty: The latter part of the verse, "that he should enter into judgment with God," highlights God's supreme authority. Elihu argues that God is not accountable to humans in a court of law; He is the ultimate Judge, not one to be judged. Man cannot summon God to a trial to demand justification for His actions.
  • Man's Limited Perspective: Implicit in Elihu's statement is the idea that humans, with their finite understanding, are not equipped to comprehend or challenge the infinite wisdom and justice of God. Our perspective is limited, while God's is perfect and all-encompassing.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "lay upon man more [than right]" in the KJV includes the bracketed "than right," which clarifies the implied meaning of the Hebrew. The original Hebrew for "lay upon" (שׂוּם - sum) means to put, place, or appoint. The context strongly suggests that God does not place an undue or unjust burden on anyone. The phrase "enter into judgment with God" translates the Hebrew לָבוֹא מִשְׁפָּט עִם־אֵל (lavo mishpat im-El), which literally means "to come into judgment with God" or "to contend in judgment with God." This powerfully conveys the impossibility and impropriety of a creature attempting to put its Creator on trial, a concept also echoed in passages like Romans 9:20.

Practical Application

Job 34:23 offers comfort and a call to humility. For those experiencing trials or suffering, it reaffirms that God is not capricious or unjust in His dealings. While we may not understand the reasons for our difficulties, we can trust in God's inherent fairness and goodness. This verse encourages us to relinquish the desire to put God on trial and instead to rest in His sovereign wisdom and justice. It reminds us to cultivate a spirit of trust and submission, recognizing that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), and He will always act righteously.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 119:137

    ¶ TZADDI. Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, and upright [are] thy judgments.

  • Romans 9:20

    Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?

  • Daniel 9:7

    O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

  • Daniel 9:9

    To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

  • Ezra 9:13

    And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this;

  • Jeremiah 2:5

    Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

  • Job 9:32

    For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back