Job 34:10

¶ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity.

Therefore hearken {H8085} unto me, ye men {H582} of understanding {H3824}: far be it {H2486} from God {H410}, that he should do wickedness {H7562}; and from the Almighty {H7706}, that he should commit iniquity {H5766}.

"So listen to me, you men with sense! Far be it from God to do anything wicked!

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Commentary

Job 34:10 stands as a powerful declaration of God's perfect justice and righteousness, spoken by Elihu, a young man who steps into the long-running debate between Job and his three friends.

Context

Elihu enters the narrative in the book of Job after Job and his three companions have exhausted their arguments. He positions himself as a voice of reason, correcting the flawed perspectives of both Job, who felt God was unjust in his suffering, and the friends, who wrongly insisted Job's suffering was a direct punishment for specific sins. In this verse, Elihu lays down a foundational theological premise: God is absolutely just and incapable of committing evil. This statement serves as the bedrock for his subsequent arguments, aiming to reconcile God's sovereignty and justice with the reality of human suffering.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Absolute Righteousness: The primary message is an emphatic declaration of God's moral purity. He is inherently good and just, utterly incapable of wrongdoing or injustice. This challenges any notion that God might be arbitrary, cruel, or complicit in evil.
  • Divine Impeccability: The phrases "far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness" and "from the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity" serve as strong repudiations of any suggestion that God could act unjustly. This speaks to God's holy and unchanging nature.
  • Foundation for Trust: For the "men of understanding" Elihu addresses, this truth is crucial. It asserts that even when human understanding fails to comprehend divine actions or allows for suffering, God's character remains unimpeachable.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse reinforce the strong denial of God's involvement in evil:

  • "Wickedness" translates from the Hebrew `רֶשַׁע` (resha'), which denotes moral wrong, guilt, or injustice. It speaks to a state of being morally corrupt.
  • "Iniquity" comes from `עָוֶל` ('avel) or `עַוְלָה` ('avlah), signifying perversity, injustice, or wrongdoing. This term points to a deviation from what is right or equitable.

Both terms highlight a complete absence of moral deviation or perversion in God's nature, emphasizing His perfect uprightness.

Related Scriptures

Elihu's assertion echoes throughout Scripture, affirming God's perfect character and just ways. This truth is foundational to understanding divine judgment and the hope of God's unwavering righteousness in all His dealings.

Practical Application

This verse provides profound comfort and a solid theological anchor for believers:

  • Trust in God's Character: Even in times of confusion, suffering, or unanswered questions, this verse provides a crucial anchor: God is good, and He is just. We can trust His motives and actions, even if we don't fully comprehend them.
  • Comfort in Adversity: Knowing that God does not commit wickedness or iniquity offers immense comfort. Our trials are not the result of divine malice or injustice, nor does God tempt anyone to do evil.
  • Foundation for Morality: If God is perfectly righteous, then His commands and standards are inherently good and just, providing a solid basis for human morality and ethics.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 32:4 (9 votes)

    [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.

  • Romans 9:14 (9 votes)

    ¶ What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

  • Job 8:3 (7 votes)

    Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

  • 2 Chronicles 19:7 (7 votes)

    Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do [it]: for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

  • James 1:13 (6 votes)

    ¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

  • Genesis 18:25 (6 votes)

    That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

  • Romans 3:4 (5 votes)

    God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.