Job 42:2

I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.

I know {H3045} that thou canst do {H3201} every thing, and that no thought {H4209} can be withholden {H1219} from thee.

"I know that you can do everything, that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained.

Commentary

Context

Job 42:2 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, representing Job's profound confession and submission after a lengthy period of intense suffering and theological debate with his friends. This verse is Job's direct response to God's powerful speeches from the whirlwind (Job 38-41), where the Almighty revealed His incomprehensible wisdom, power, and sovereignty over creation. Prior to this, Job had questioned God's justice and sought an audience to plead his case. God's majestic display of His creative and sustaining power silences Job's complaints and brings him to a place of humble awe and renewed understanding.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Omnipotence: The declaration "I know that thou canst do every [thing]" is a complete surrender to God's unlimited power. Job acknowledges that there is no task too great or complex for the Creator, highlighting God's absolute capability and dominion over all existence. This contrasts sharply with Job's earlier limited human perspective on divine action. For further insight into God's power, consider Jeremiah 32:17.
  • God's Omniscience: The phrase "and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee" speaks to God's perfect and complete knowledge. It signifies that God knows all things—past, present, and future—including the deepest intentions and thoughts of humanity. Nothing is hidden from His sight, emphasizing His perfect understanding and wisdom, which far surpasses any human comprehension. This truth brings both comfort and conviction. Psalm 139:2 offers similar reflections on God's intimate knowledge.
  • Human Humility: This verse encapsulates Job's newfound humility. After striving to understand God's ways through human reason, Job finally recognizes the vast chasm between finite human understanding and infinite divine wisdom. It's a confession that true wisdom begins with acknowledging God's supremacy.
  • Sovereignty of God: Underlying both omnipotence and omniscience is the theme of God's absolute sovereignty. Job understands that God is in complete control, and His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted by human will or circumstance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "every [thing]" is kol (כֹּל), signifying totality or completeness, reinforcing the idea of God's absolute power over all things. The phrase "no thought can be withholden from thee" uses the Hebrew term maḥshābâ (מַחְשָׁבָה) for "thought" or "plan," and bāṣar (בָּצַר) for "withholden," which can mean to cut off, restrain, or make inaccessible. Thus, Job is confessing that God's plans and intentions cannot be hindered, nor can any human thought or intention be hidden from Him. This highlights God's unchallengeable will and His penetrating insight.

Practical Application

Job 42:2 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Plan: When faced with trials or uncertainties, this verse encourages us to trust in God's ultimate power and perfect knowledge. Even when we don't understand His ways, we can rest assured that His plans cannot be thwarted.
  • Humility in Understanding: It reminds us to approach God with humility, recognizing the limitations of our own understanding. Instead of questioning God's justice or wisdom, we are called to submit to His divine authority.
  • Comfort in His Omniscience: The knowledge that no thought is hidden from God can be a source of great comfort. He knows our struggles, our fears, and our deepest desires, and He cares for us.
  • Living in Awe: This confession inspires a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God's majestic power and infinite wisdom, leading to a more profound worship and surrender. Job's journey culminates in a clear vision of God's character and a restoration that far exceeded his original state, as seen in Job 42:10.
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

  • Matthew 19:26 (64 votes)

    But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

  • Mark 10:27 (48 votes)

    And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

  • Genesis 18:14 (39 votes)

    Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • Jeremiah 32:17 (31 votes)

    Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:

  • Hebrews 4:12 (31 votes)

    For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  • Hebrews 4:13 (31 votes)

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • Isaiah 46:10 (23 votes)

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: