Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Job 37:23

Verse Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out] This is a very abrupt exclamation, and highly descriptive of the state of mind in which Elihu was at this time; full of solemnity, wonder, and astonishment, at his own contemplation of this "great First Cause, least understood." The ALMIGHTY! we cannot find him out.

Excellent in power and in judgment] We must not pretend to comprehend his being, the mode of his existence, the wisdom of his counsels, nor the mysteries of his conduct.

He will not afflict.] לא יענה la yeanneh, he will not ANSWER. He will give account of none of his matters to us. We cannot comprehend his motives, nor the ends he has in view.

Continues after advertising

See also Job 37:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    TOUCHING THE ALMIGHTY, WE CANNOT FIND HIM OUT - See the notes at Job 11:7. This sentiment accords with all that Elihu had said, and indeed is what he designed particularly to enforce. But it has a spe...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 36:22--37:24 _ 1. God's power and presence in nature (Job 36:22)_ 2. The thunderstorm (Job 37:1) 3. The snow and the rain (Job 37:6) 4. Elihu's concluding remarks ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    How can he, whose mind is dark, address God? Shall I invite Him to converse and court destruction? (Job 37:19 f.). In Job 37:21 follow _mg._ And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in t...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4. POWER. The Hebrew accents mark off three distinct attributes: (1) power supreme; (2) righteousness abundant; (3) the consequent reverence from men, Job 37:24....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job 36:26-33. The greatness and unsearchableness of God, seen in His marvellous operations in the skies; and exhortation to Job to allow these wonders duly to impress him, and to bow beneath the great...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Elihu sums up his teaching regarding the greatness of God, which is ever conjoined with righteousness. It is befitting men, therefore, not to judge Him, but to fear Him, for He regards not them that a...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    According to the original the members of the verse stand thus; The Almighty! we cannot find him out; who is great in power, And in justice and fulness of righteousness: he will not afflict. The con...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Elihu's own imagination kindles at the thought of the wonders which he is unfolding, and he beseeches Job to observe them with a reverent awe, and learn from them the unsearchableness of Him who is th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE WILL NOT AFFLICT— _He oppresseth not._ Heath. _He will not be controuled._ Houb. The words _wise of heart,_ at the end of the next verse, may be rendered, _wise in their own conceit._ It is a sarca...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. Man should realize his insignificant position and fear God. (Job 37:14-24) TEXT 37:14-24 14 HEARKEN UNTO THIS, O JOB: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _TOUCHING THE ALMIGHTY, WE CANNOT FIND HIM OUT: HE IS EXCELLENT IN POWER, AND IN JUDGMENT, AND IN PLENTY OF JUSTICE: HE WILL NOT AFFLICT._ AFFLICT - oppressively, so as to 'pervert judgment,' as Job i...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    37:23 judgment, (g-13) Elsewhere 'right.' afflict. (h-22) Or 'answer.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SPEECHES OF ELIHU (CONCLUDED) 2. The thunder is frequently called the voice of God: cp. Psalms 29. SOUND] RM 'muttering.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 37 ELIHU INTRODUCES GOD TO...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Perhaps Elihu realised that God would speak soon. So Elihu told the other men clearly that they must respect God. In verse 23, Elihu reminded the men about the main ideas in his speech. The men had a...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TOUCHING THE ALMIGHTY, WE CANNOT FIND HIM OUT. — He is excellent, or mighty, in power and justice, &c....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    שַׁדַּ֣י לֹֽא ־מְ֭צָאנֻהוּ שַׂגִּיא ־כֹ֑חַ וּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XXVI. THE DIVINE PREROGATIVE Job 35:1; Job 36:1; Job 37:1 AFTER a long digression Elihu returns to consider the statement ascribed to Job, "It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE LIGHT IN THE CLOUDS Job 37:1 As Elihu spoke a thunder-storm was gathering, and much of the imagery of this chapter is suggested by that fact. The little group listened to the sound of God's voice...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The description of the storm commenced in the previous chapter and is here completed. There is first the drawing up of the water into the clouds, their spreading over the sky, the strange mutterings o...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    [Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not (u) afflict. (u) Meaning, without cause....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Worthily. Hebrew, "the Almighty, we cannot find him out," (Haydock) or comprehend his nature or mysteries. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (14) В¶ Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. (15) Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? (16) Dost thou know the b...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 32 THROUGH 37. But these spiritual affections of Job did not prevent his turning this consciousness of integrity into a robe of self-righteousness which hid G...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    [TOUCHING] THE ALMIGHTY,.... Or with respect to God, who is almighty; with whom nothing is impossible; who can do and does do all things he pleases, and more than we can ask or think; and who is all s...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Job 37:23 [Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Ver. 23. _Touching the Almighty we cannot find h...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Fair weather cometh out of the north_ From the northern winds, which scatter the clouds and clear the sky. Elihu concludes with some short, but great sayings, concerning the glory of God. He speaks a...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out, man can understand and fathom His essence neither with his senses nor with his mind; HE IS EXCELLENT IN POWER AND IN JUDGMENT AND IN PLENTY OF JUSTICE; H...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FINAL ADMONITION ADDRESSED TO JOB...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    MAN'S IMPOTENCE IN THE STORM (vv.1-5) As the storm breaks upon them, Elihu himself trembles (v.1). The thunder of God's voice calls for man's close attention and His lightning spreads over the whole...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Man cannot summon God, God is exalted in power, and He will never do violence to justice, something that Job complained about. "Whatever, therefore, may be said of Job's affliction, Elihu wants him to...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    21-24 Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings concerning the glory of God. Light always is, but is not always to be seen. When clouds come between, the sun is darkened in the clear day....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WE CANNOT FIND HIM OUT, to wit, to perfection, as it is expressed, JOB 11:7. We cannot comprehend him; his being, power, wisdom, justice, and his counsels proceeding from them, are past our finding ou...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 37:23 Almighty H7706 find H4672 (H8804) excellent H7689 power H3581 judgment H4941 abundant H7230 justice H6666 oppre

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Elihu's discourse continued. God's majesty. CHARACTERS: God, Elihu, Job. CONCLUSION: We must all own that our finite understandings cannot comprehend the infinite perfections of God, but w...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 37:5. _God thundereth marvellously with his voice._ See on Psalms 29. This chapter is divided from the former, in the midst of a sublime description of a storm. Job 37:22. The golden splendour _co...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out._ AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY It is well that there should be an immeasurable and unknown quantity in life and in creation. Even the unknown has its purposes to...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Teach us what we shall say unto Him._ MAN AND GOD I. Suggestions concerning man. 1. The sublimest act, speaking to God. “Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reas...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 37:21 Elihu likens the LIGHT that comes after a storm has CLEARED to the God who is CLOTHED WITH AWESOME MAJESTY, who cannot simply be found, who is extremely powerful,

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _ELIHU’S FOURTH SPEECH CONTINUED_ Elihu continues his discourse, apparently in the midst of loud thunder-claps, suddenly issuing from the storm-cloud out of which the Almighty was about to speak, and...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 37:1 It has been already remarked that there is no natural division between Job 36:1 and Job 37:1.—the description of the thunderstorm and its effects runs on. From its effect on cattl...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    At this also my heart trembled, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightni...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 6:16; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Hebrews 12:10; Isaiah 45:21; Jo

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Find — We cannot comprehend him: his power, wisdom, justice, and his counsels proceeding from them are past our finding out. Power — Therefore as he doth not need any unrighteous action to advance him...

Continues after advertising