Job 35:6

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or [if] thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou sinnest {H2398}, what doest {H6466} thou against him? or if thy transgressions {H6588} be multiplied {H7231}, what doest {H6213} thou unto him?

If you sin, how do you hurt him? If your crimes are many, how do you affect him?

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

Commentary

Job 35:6 is part of Elihu's lengthy discourse, where he attempts to offer a fresh perspective on Job's suffering and the nature of God's justice. Elihu posits that human actions, whether righteous or sinful, do not fundamentally affect God's transcendent being or position.

Context of Job 35:6

This verse comes from the middle of Elihu's speeches (chapters 32-37), which follow the arguments of Job's three friends. Elihu, a younger man, believes he has a clearer understanding of God's ways and aims to correct what he perceives as Job's self-righteousness and the friends' flawed theology. In chapter 35, Elihu challenges Job's complaints by emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty and distance from human affairs. He argues that God is not diminished by human sin, nor is He dependent on human righteousness. This perspective is crucial for understanding the profound difference between human experience and divine majesty.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Transcendence: The primary message is that God is far above human comprehension and influence. Our actions, while significant to us and others, do not alter God's divine essence or power. Elihu asks, "If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him?" implying that God's infinite nature remains untouched. This idea is echoed in other scriptures that speak of God's incomparable greatness, such as Isaiah 55:9.
  • The Nature of Sin's Impact: While sin offends God's holiness and justly incurs His wrath, Elihu highlights that sin's primary detrimental effect is upon the sinner themselves and other human beings, not on God's intrinsic being. "What doest thou unto him?" suggests that God does not suffer or gain from human moral choices in the same way humans do.
  • God's Self-Sufficiency: This verse subtly reinforces God's complete independence. He does not need humanity's obedience to be God, nor is He weakened by disobedience. His glory is inherent, not bestowed by creation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "what doest thou against him?" (מַה תִּפְעַל־בּוֹ, mah tif'al-bo) carries the sense of "what effect do you have on Him?" or "what do you accomplish against Him?". Similarly, "what doest thou unto him?" (מַה תִּתֵּן־לוֹ, mah titten-lo) can be understood as "what do you give Him?" or "what do you impart to Him?". These rhetorical questions underscore Elihu's point that human actions do not add to or subtract from God's perfect, self-existent nature.

Practical Application

Job 35:6 offers a vital perspective on our relationship with God. It reminds us that our sin, no matter how grievous, does not diminish God's power or glory, nor does our righteousness add to His perfection. This realization should cultivate profound humility and reverence. It emphasizes that our obedience is not for God's benefit in terms of His being, but for our own good and the good of others, and it honors His character. Understanding God's transcendence can help us grasp the immense grace He extends to us, given that He is not reliant on us yet chooses to engage with humanity and offer redemption.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 7:19 (6 votes)

    Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: [do they] not [provoke] themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

  • Proverbs 8:36 (6 votes)

    But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

  • Proverbs 9:12 (2 votes)

    If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].