Job 37:24

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any [that are] wise of heart.

Men {H582} do therefore fear {H3372} him: he respecteth {H7200} not any that are wise {H2450} of heart {H3820}.

This is why people fear him; he does not consider those who think of themselves as wise."

Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”

Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

Job 37:24 concludes Elihu's final discourse, serving as a powerful summary of his arguments about God's immense power and humanity's proper response to it. This verse highlights the contrast between divine majesty and human limitations, particularly in the realm of wisdom.

Context

This verse comes at the very end of Elihu's extensive speeches (chapters 32-37), which precede God's direct intervention to Job (starting in Job 38). Elihu has systematically described God's awesome power manifest in natural phenomena—thunder, lightning, clouds, snow, and wind—emphasizing that human understanding cannot fully grasp the Creator's ways. His aim is to humble Job and his friends, asserting God's unquestionable sovereignty and justice. This concluding statement encapsulates his overall message about human reverence and the insufficiency of human intellect before God's grandeur.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Reverent Fear of God: The phrase "Men do therefore fear him" is a direct consequence of Elihu's preceding descriptions of God's overwhelming power in creation. This "fear" is not merely terror but a profound sense of awe, reverence, and respect for the incomprehensible majesty and might of the Almighty. It suggests a humble recognition of God's supreme authority and our place before Him. This concept is foundational in biblical wisdom literature, where the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
  • God's Disregard for Human Wisdom: The second part, "he respecteth not any [that are] wise of heart," delivers a crucial message. It implies that God does not show partiality or special regard to those who consider themselves intellectually superior, self-sufficient, or wise in human terms. Human wisdom, cleverness, or philosophical insight, when pitted against divine revelation or God's inscrutable ways, holds no sway with Him. God's perspective transcends and often confounds human understanding.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "wise of heart" (חַכְמֵי־לֵב, chakmei-lev) refers to those who are wise in their own estimation, or possessing human skill and intellect. It can denote a sense of self-sufficiency or intellectual pride rather than true spiritual wisdom that comes from God. This contrasts sharply with the divine wisdom that is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated."

Practical Application

Job 37:24 calls believers to a posture of humility and awe before God. It reminds us that our human intellect, achievements, or self-proclaimed wisdom cannot earn God's favor or fully comprehend His ways. True understanding and a right relationship with God stem from reverent submission and dependence on Him, rather than reliance on our own limited capabilities. This verse encourages us to seek wisdom from God, acknowledging that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are beyond our full comprehension. As Paul later writes, "the foolishness of God is wiser than men."

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.

  • Matthew 10:28

    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:26

    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:

  • Job 5:13

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

  • Isaiah 5:21

    Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

  • Romans 2:4

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

  • Psalms 130:4

    But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:11

    ¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

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