Job 35:3

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? [and], What profit shall I have, [if I be cleansed] from my sin?

For thou saidst {H559}, What advantage {H5532} will it be unto thee? and, What profit {H3276} shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin {H2403}?

For you ask what advantage it is to you, 'How do I gain from not sinning?'

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

Context

Job 35:3 is part of Elihu's third speech, found in chapters 35-37 of the Book of Job. Elihu, a younger man, has remained silent through the long debates between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. He now interjects, claiming that both Job and his friends have erred in their arguments. In this particular verse, Elihu is paraphrasing or interpreting Job's earlier complaints, suggesting that Job believes his righteousness offers no advantage to God, nor does his sin inflict any harm upon Him. This accusation aims to highlight what Elihu perceives as Job's self-righteousness and his questioning of God's justice and involvement in human affairs. The broader context of the Book of Job explores profound questions about divine justice, human suffering, and the nature of true faith.

Key Themes

  • The Value of Righteousness: Elihu accuses Job of questioning the very purpose of living righteously, suggesting Job feels it yields no tangible 'profit' either to himself or to God. This touches on the core theological debate about whether obedience is merely transactional.
  • God's Self-Sufficiency: Elihu's argument, though misapplied to Job, implicitly introduces the profound truth that God is not dependent on human actions. Our righteousness does not make Him greater, nor does our sin diminish His essence. This theme is echoed in other scriptures, such as Acts 17:25, which states God is not "served by human hands, as if he needed anything."
  • Human Accountability: Despite God's independence, the verse implicitly raises the question of human moral accountability. If God doesn't 'profit' from our goodness, why should we strive for it? Elihu's subsequent argument (Job 35:6-8) clarifies that while human actions don't affect God directly, they profoundly impact other humans.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "What advantage will it be unto thee?" and "What profit shall I have?" use words that convey a sense of gain or benefit. The Hebrew word for "advantage" or "profit" here is yithron (יִתְרוֹן), which frequently appears in Ecclesiastes to discuss the "profit" or "gain" of human endeavors. Elihu uses this term to frame Job's perceived grievance, suggesting Job views righteousness through a transactional lens, as if God owes him something for his good behavior or that God somehow benefits from it. The phrase "if I be cleansed from my sin" points to a desire for purity, but Elihu implies Job questions its ultimate utility if there's no perceived 'return on investment' from God.

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to examine our own motivations for faith and obedience. Do we pursue righteousness primarily for personal gain, or out of a genuine desire to honor God and live in accordance with His will? While God does bless obedience, His nature is not transactional. He is not a cosmic vending machine. True faith recognizes God's absolute sovereignty and self-sufficiency. Our righteousness is not for God's benefit, but for our good and the good of those around us. Understanding God's independent glory frees us from demanding returns and instead encourages a heart of humble obedience and worship, as seen in Micah 6:8.

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.

  • Job 34:9

    For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

  • Job 9:30

    If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

  • Job 9:31

    Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

  • Job 21:15

    What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

  • Job 9:21

    [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

  • Job 9:22

    ¶ This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

  • Job 10:15

    If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

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