Job 22:13 Study Bible: You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

◄ Job 22:13 ►

Yet you say: 'What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

Yet you say
This phrase introduces a direct accusation from Eliphaz towards Job. In the Hebrew text, the word "you" is emphasized, suggesting a personal and direct confrontation. Eliphaz is attributing a skeptical attitude to Job, implying that Job has questioned God's omniscience. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of human doubt and divine knowledge, a theme that resonates throughout the Book of Job.

What does God know?
This rhetorical question challenges the extent of God's knowledge. The Hebrew root for "know" is "yada," which encompasses not just intellectual understanding but also experiential and relational knowledge. Eliphaz is accusing Job of doubting God's intimate awareness of human affairs. From a conservative Christian perspective, this question underscores the folly of underestimating God's omniscience, as God is portrayed throughout Scripture as all-knowing and intimately involved in His creation.

Can He judge
The concept of judgment here is central to the theological discourse in Job. The Hebrew word for "judge" is "shaphat," which implies not only legal judgment but also governance and discernment. Eliphaz is questioning whether God can execute justice if He is supposedly unaware of human actions. This reflects a misunderstanding of divine justice, which, according to conservative Christian theology, is perfect and unerring, transcending human limitations and perceptions.

through thick darkness?
The imagery of "thick darkness" suggests obscurity and hiddenness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, darkness often symbolized chaos and the unknown. The Hebrew word "araphel" is used here, which can denote a dense cloud or deep gloom. Eliphaz implies that God's vision might be obstructed by such darkness. However, from a biblical standpoint, darkness is no barrier to God. Passages like Psalm 139:12 affirm that "even the darkness is not dark to You." This highlights the belief in God's omnipresence and His ability to see and judge rightly, regardless of human perception of obscurity.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, enduring immense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. Eliphaz the Temanite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Eliphaz is speaking, accusing Job of questioning God's knowledge and justice.

3. Teman
A region in Edom, known for its wise men. Eliphaz, being a Temanite, is considered to be a man of wisdom.

4. God
The omniscient and omnipotent Creator, whose knowledge and justice are being questioned by Eliphaz on behalf of Job.

5. Thick Darkness
A metaphor used to describe the perceived distance or obscurity between God and human affairs, suggesting that God might not see or judge clearly.

Teaching Points

God's Omniscience
Despite human perceptions, God sees and knows everything. Our understanding is limited, but God's is infinite.

Human Misunderstanding
Like Eliphaz, we may sometimes misinterpret God's actions or inactions. It's crucial to seek wisdom and understanding through prayer and scripture.

Faith in God's Justice
Trust that God's judgments are righteous and just, even when we cannot see the full picture.

The Danger of Assumptions
Be cautious of assuming others' spiritual conditions or God's intentions based on limited understanding.

Seeking God's Perspective
In times of doubt, seek God's perspective through prayer and study of His Word, rather than relying solely on human reasoning.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Eliphaz's accusation reflect a common human tendency to question God's knowledge and justice?

2. In what ways can we remind ourselves of God's omniscience when we feel like He is distant or unaware of our struggles?

3. How do the scriptures in Psalm 139 and Hebrews 4:13 provide reassurance about God's awareness of our circumstances?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to avoid making assumptions about God's actions or the spiritual state of others?

5. How can we cultivate a deeper trust in God's justice and wisdom, especially when facing personal trials or witnessing injustice in the world?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Psalm 139
This Psalm emphasizes God's omniscience and omnipresence, countering the idea that God cannot see through "thick darkness."

Isaiah 40
Highlights God's incomparable wisdom and understanding, reinforcing the belief that nothing is hidden from Him.

Hebrews 4:13
Affirms that nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight, supporting the idea that God sees and knows all.

Sermons

God's Knowledge	W.F. Adeney	Job 22:13
Censorious and Uncharitable Reasoning	E. Johnson	Job 22:1-30
Our Sins Infinite in Number and Enormity	E. Payson, D. D.	Job 22:5-14
The Charge Against Job	Homilist	Job 22:5-14
God Brought Near	Homilist	Job 22:12-13
The Unseen Eye	R. Gree	Job 22:13, 14

People

Eliphaz, Job, Ophir

Places

Ophir, Uz

Topics

Able, Cloud, Dark, Darkness, Decisions, Deep, Hast, Judge, Sayest, Thick, Thickness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Job 22:12-14

5195 veil

Library

December 29 Morning
Understanding what the will of the Lord is.--EPH. 5:17. This is the will of God, even your sanctification.--Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.--This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.--We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Knowledge and Peace
'Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.'--JOB xxii. 21. In the sense in which the speaker meant them, these words are not true. They mean little more than 'It pays to be religious.' What kind of notion of acquaintance with God Eliphaz may have had, one scarcely knows, but at any rate, the whole meaning of the text on his lips is poor and selfish. The peace promised is evidently only outward tranquillity and freedom from trouble, and the good that is to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Life May be Made
'For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, ... lifting up; and He shall save the humble person.'--JOB xxii. 26-29. These words are a fragment of one of the speeches of Job's friends, in which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Whether all Things are under Divine Providence
Whether All Things are under Divine Providence We proceed to the second article thus: 1. It seems that not all things are under divine providence. For nothing that is ordained happens contingently, and if all things were provided by God, nothing would happen contingently. There would then be no such thing as chance or fortune. But this is contrary to common opinion. 2. Again, every wise provider, so far as he is able, preserves those in his care from defect and from evil. But we see many evils in …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether God is Everywhere by Essence, Presence and Power?
Objection 1: It seems that the mode of God's existence in all things is not properly described by way of essence, presence and power. For what is by essence in anything, is in it essentially. But God is not essentially in things; for He does not belong to the essence of anything. Therefore it ought not to be said that God is in things by essence, presence and power. Objection 2: Further, to be present in anything means not to be absent from it. Now this is the meaning of God being in things by His …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Everything is Subject to the Providence of God?
Objection 1: It seems that everything is not subject to divine providence. For nothing foreseen can happen by chance. If then everything was foreseen by God, nothing would happen by chance. And thus hazard and luck would disappear; which is against common opinion. Objection 2: Further, a wise provider excludes any defect or evil, as far as he can, from those over whom he has a care. But we see many evils existing. Either, then, God cannot hinder these, and thus is not omnipotent; or else He does …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Doctrine of God
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: (Vs. Atheism). 1. ASSUMED BY THE SCRIPTURES. 2. PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. a) Universal belief in the Existence of God. b) Cosmological:--Argument from Cause. c) Teleological:--Argument from Design. d) Ontological:--Argument from Being. e) Anthropological:--Moral Argument. f) Argument from Congruity. g) Argument from Scripture. II. THE NATURE OF GOD: (Vs. Agnosticism) 1. THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). 2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Pantheism). 3. THE UNITY …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

The Case of the Christian under the Hiding of God's Face.
1. The phrase scriptural.--2. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the divine favor.--3 chiefly as to spiritual considerations.--4. This may become the case of any Christian.--5. and will be found a very sorrowful one.--6. The following directions, therefore, are given to those who suppose it to be their own: To inquire whether it be indeed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may not proceed from indisposition of body,--7. or difficulties as to worldly circumstances.--8, …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Bands of Love; Or, Union to Christ. "I Drew them with Cords of a Man, with Bands of Love: and I was to them as they that Take Off the Yoke on their Jaws, and I Laid Meat unto Them. " --Hosea xi. 4.
BANDS OF LOVE; OR, UNION TO CHRIST. SYSTEMATIC theologians have usually regarded union to Christ under three aspects, natural, mystical and federal, and it may be that these three terms are comprehensive enough to embrace the whole subject, but as our aim is simplicity, let us be pardoned if we appear diffuse when we follow a less concise method. 1. The saints were from the beginning joined to Christ by bands of everlasting love. Before He took on Him their nature, or brought them into a conscious …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to Christians to be Holy. By John Bunyan.
Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.'--[Psalm 93:5] London, by B. W., for Benj. Alsop, at the Angel and Bible, in the Poultrey. 1684. THE EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This is the most searching treatise that has ever fallen under our notice. It is an invaluable guide to those sincere Christians, who, under a sense of the infinite importance of the salvation of an immortal soul, and of the deceitfulness of their hearts, sigh and cry, "O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Epistle xxxix. To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria.
To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria. Gregory to Eulogius, &c. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (Prov. xxv. 25). But what can be good news to me, so far as concerns the behoof of holy Church, but to hear of the health and safety of your to me most sweet Holiness, who, from your perception of the light of truth, both illuminate the same Church with the word of preaching, and mould it to a better way by the example of your manners? As often, too, as I recall in …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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