Job 36:19

Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Will he esteem {H6186} thy riches {H7769}? no, not gold {H1222}, nor all the forces {H3981} of strength {H3581}.

Will your great wealth help you? or all your efforts, no matter how strong?

Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces ofthystrength?

The commentary on Job 36:19 from the King James Version presents a profound rhetorical question from Elihu, asserting that God is not influenced by human wealth or power. This verse is a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and impartiality in the face of human attempts to impress or influence Him.

Context

This verse is part of Elihu's extensive discourse in the book of Job, where he takes a different approach than Job's three friends. Elihu, the youngest of Job's counselors, aims to correct Job's perspective on divine justice and suffering. He argues that God's ways are beyond human comprehension and that His dealings are always just, even if they seem harsh to humans. In this specific passage, Elihu emphasizes God's transcendence and His independence from human limitations or possessions, contrasting divine majesty with the fleeting nature of human wealth and strength. He is essentially telling Job that his riches or power, had he possessed them, would not have spared him from God's hand or swayed His judgment.

Key Themes

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty: Elihu declares that God operates independently of human influence. Neither vast riches nor immense strength can sway His judgment or command His favor. God's decisions are based on righteousness, not on what humans possess.
  • The Insignificance of Worldly Possessions: The rhetorical "Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold" powerfully conveys that earthly wealth, symbolized by "gold," holds no value in God's eyes when it comes to His divine purposes or the administration of justice. Human treasures are utterly worthless in bargaining with the Almighty.
  • Divine Impartiality: God does not show favoritism based on one's material possessions or physical might. This echoes the truth found elsewhere in Scripture that God is no respecter of persons, treating all justly regardless of their earthly status.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "esteem" (שָׁוָה, shavah) implies to be equal, to value, or to consider on par. Elihu's question emphatically states that God does not consider human wealth or power as equivalent to, or having any bearing on, His divine will or justice. The phrase "forces of strength" (כָּל־מַאֲמַצֵּי כֹחַ, kol ma'amatzei koach) speaks to all human efforts or utmost exertions of power. This highlights that human might, no matter how great, is utterly inconsequential when compared to God's infinite power and authority. God does not need or benefit from human strength.

Practical Application

Job 36:19 serves as a crucial reminder for believers today. It challenges us to evaluate where we place our trust and derive our security. True security and favor come not from accumulating wealth or power, but from a right relationship with God. This verse encourages humility, reminding us that all human achievements and possessions are fleeting and hold no sway with the Almighty. Instead of seeking earthly gain or relying on our own might, we are called to seek God's kingdom and righteousness, understanding that His justice is perfect and His favor is not bought with gold or strength. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine value and lasting significance are found only in God.

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.

  • Proverbs 11:4

    ¶ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

  • Proverbs 11:21

    ¶ [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

  • James 5:3

    Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

  • Isaiah 2:20

    In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

  • Proverbs 10:2

    ¶ Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

  • Isaiah 37:36

    Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

  • Zephaniah 1:18

    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

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