Wisdom · Chapter 11 of 42

Job 11

Zophar, the bluntest friend, rebukes Job for his flood of words and self-defense, wishing God would speak and expose Job's guilt, since God actually exacts less than Job's sin deserves. He marvels at God's unsearchable greatness, higher than heaven and deeper than hell. Then he offers the familiar bargain: if Job puts away his sin, he will be secure, radiant, and unafraid, while the wicked lose all hope.

What happens in Job 11

Zophar, the third and harshest friend, cannot bear Job's many words and self-justification. He wishes God himself would speak and open his lips against Job, revealing the secrets of wisdom, for then Job would learn that God exacts from him less than his iniquity deserves, a stinging accusation of hidden guilt. Zophar exalts the unsearchable greatness of God, higher than heaven, deeper than hell, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Yet his remedy is the same retribution formula as the others: if Job would prepare his heart, stretch out his hands to God, and put away the iniquity in his hand, then he could lift his face without spot, be steadfast and unafraid, and enjoy a life clearer than noonday. He would rest in security and hope, with many seeking his favor. But, Zophar warns, the eyes of the wicked will fail, and their only hope will be the giving up of the ghost.

Job 11 in context

Zophar completes the first cycle of friends' speeches, and he is the most severe. Where Eliphaz appealed to a vision and Bildad to tradition, Zophar simply asserts, and he alone dares to say God is punishing Job less than he deserves. His description of God's unsearchable greatness is magnificent and true, but he uses it to bully Job into a confession of sins Job has not committed.

The friends' logic is now complete and completely wrong about Job's case, though the reader knows it and they do not.

Main themes of Job 11

Job 11 (KJV)

1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? 3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? 4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 6And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. 7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? 11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? 12For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt. 13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; 14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: 17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Verses to carry from Job 11

“And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.”Job 11:6

“Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?”Job 11:7

“If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;”Job 11:13

Reflection

Zophar praised God's unsearchable greatness and still used it to crush a suffering friend. A high view of God is only as good as the love that carries it. Let God's vastness make you humble and gentle, not superior.

And rejoice that the God too deep to search has made himself known and near in Christ, who welcomes rather than accuses the broken.

A prayer from Job 11