◄ Job 35:3 ►
For you ask, 'What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?'
Study Bible
For you ask, 'What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sinning?'
For you ask
This phrase introduces a rhetorical question posed by Elihu, one of Job's friends. The Hebrew root for "ask" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which implies a seeking or inquiring with earnestness. In the context of Job, this reflects a deep existential inquiry, a quest for understanding the purpose of righteousness and suffering. Elihu is addressing Job's questioning of God's justice and the value of living a righteous life. This sets the stage for a profound theological discussion about the nature of divine justice and human morality.

What does it profit me
The word "profit" comes from the Hebrew "סָכַן" (sakan), which means to be of use or benefit. This phrase captures the human tendency to evaluate actions based on personal gain. In the historical context of Job, prosperity was often seen as a sign of divine favor. Elihu challenges this notion by suggesting that righteousness should not be pursued merely for material or personal gain, but as an intrinsic good aligned with God's will.

and what benefit do I gain
The term "benefit" is derived from the Hebrew "בֶּצַע" (betza), which can also mean gain or advantage. This reflects a transactional view of morality, where actions are weighed against their outcomes. Elihu is critiquing this perspective, urging Job to consider a higher purpose for righteousness beyond immediate, tangible rewards. This challenges believers to reflect on their motivations for following God, emphasizing faithfulness over materialism.

apart from sinning?
The phrase "apart from sinning" highlights the contrast between righteousness and sin. The Hebrew word for "sinning" is "חָטָא" (chata), which means to miss the mark or to err. Elihu is pointing out the flawed logic in thinking that avoiding sin is only valuable if it brings personal gain. This underscores a central theme in the Book of Job: the righteousness of God and the call for humans to trust in His wisdom and justice, even when it transcends human understanding. Elihu's argument invites believers to pursue holiness for its own sake, as a reflection of God's character, rather than for selfish reasons.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elihu
A young man who speaks to Job and his friends, offering a different perspective on Job's suffering. Elihu is portrayed as being passionate and somewhat indignant about the way Job has questioned God's justice.

2. Job
The central figure of the Book of Job, a man who experiences immense suffering and questions the reasons behind his trials. Job's integrity and faith are tested throughout the account.

3. God
The ultimate authority and sovereign being whose justice and righteousness are central themes in the Book of Job. Elihu seeks to defend God's justice in his speeches.

4. Friends of Job
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who attempt to explain Job's suffering through traditional wisdom, often suggesting that Job's suffering is a result of sin.

5. The Heavens
Often referenced in the Book of Job as a symbol of God's majesty and the divine order, contrasting human understanding with divine wisdom.
Teaching Points
Understanding Righteousness
Righteousness is not about personal gain but about aligning with God's will and character. Our actions should reflect a desire to honor God rather than seeking what we can get from Him.

The Nature of God’s Justice
God's justice is not transactional. Elihu reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His justice is perfect, even when it is beyond our understanding.

The Purpose of Suffering
Suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. It can be a means through which God refines our character and deepens our reliance on Him.

Questioning God
While it is natural to question during times of suffering, we must approach God with humility, recognizing His sovereignty and wisdom.

Living for God’s Glory
Our lives should be lived for the glory of God, not for personal benefit. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Elihu's perspective on righteousness challenge our understanding of why we should live righteously?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of seeking God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) in our daily lives, especially during times of trial?

3. How can understanding the nature of God's justice help us trust Him more deeply when we face suffering or injustice?

4. What are some practical ways we can shift our focus from seeking personal gain to living for God's glory in our everyday decisions?

5. How can the account of Job and the insights from Elihu's speech encourage us to approach God with humility and trust, even when we don't understand His ways?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 12:13
This verse emphasizes the duty of man to fear God and keep His commandments, which aligns with Elihu's argument that righteousness is about honoring God rather than seeking personal gain.

Romans 3:23
This verse highlights the universality of sin, which connects to Elihu's point that human righteousness does not add to God's glory but is rather a response to His holiness.

Matthew 6:33
Jesus teaches about seeking first the kingdom of God, which parallels Elihu's argument that our focus should be on God's righteousness rather than personal profit.
Sermons
Elihu's Third Speech: the Profit of GodlinessE. Johnson Job 35:1-16
Is Goodness Profitable?W.F. Adeney Job 35:3, 4
Man's CharacterHomilistJob 35:3-8
People
Elihu, Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Advantage, Better, Cleansed, Gain, Hast, Inquirest, Profit, Sayest, Sin, Sinned, Sinning, Wrong
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 35:1-3

     5465   profit

Library
Questions which Ought to be Asked
ELIHU PERCEIVED the great ones of the earth oppressing the needy, and he traced their domineering tyranny to their forgetfulness of God: "None saith, Where is God my Maker?" Surely, had they thought of God they could not have acted so unjustly. Worse still, if I understand Elihu aright, he complained that even among the oppressed there was the same departure in heart from the Lord: they cried out by reason of the arm of the mighty, but unhappily they did not cry unto God their Maker, though he waits …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880

Songs in the Night
"But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?"--Job 35:10. ELIHU was a wise man, exceeding wise, though not as wise as the all-wise Jehovah, who sees light in the clouds, and finds order in confusion; hence Elihu, being much puzzled at beholding Job thus afflicted, cast about him to find the cause of it, and he very wisely hit upon one of the most likely reasons, although it did not happen to be the right one in Job's case. He said within himself--"Surely, if men be tried …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 44: 1898

Spurgeon -- Songs in the Night
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born at Kelvedon, Essex, England, in 1834. He was one of the most powerful and popular preachers of his time, and his extraordinary force of character and wonderful enthusiasm attracted vast audiences. His voice was unusually powerful, clear and melodious, and he used it with consummate skill. In the preparation of his sermons he meditated much but wrote not a word, so that he was in the truest sense a purely extemporaneous speaker. Sincerity, intensity, imagination and …
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 8

'Why Should I?'
Thou saidst, What advantage will it be? What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.' (Job xxxv. 3, 4.) In reading these words I have no wish to enter into the controversy between Job and his friends as to the relationship of physical suffering to sin, but to emphasize a certain mental attitude which they indicate, and which often expresses itself in relation to other things. The human mind is so constituted that men will not commit …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Introduction to the Work with Some General Account of Its Design
. 1, 2.That true religion is very rare, appears from comparing the nature of it with the lives and characters of men around us.--3. The want of it, matter of just lamentation.--4. To remedy this evil is the design of the ensuing Treatise.--5, 6. To which, therefore, the Author earnestly bespeaks the attention of the reader, as his own heart is deeply interested in it.--7 to 12. A general plan of the Work; of which the first fifteen chapters relate chiefly to the Rise of Religion, and the remaining …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The New Song
Heinrich Suso Job xxxv. 10 O Lord, in my songs I have praised Thee For all that was sweet and was fair; And now a new song would I sing Thee, A song that is wondrous and rare. A song of the heart that is broken, A song of the sighs and the tears, The sickness, the want, and the sadness Of the days of our pilgrimage years. A song of the widows and orphans, Of the weary and hungry and sad-- Loud praise of the will Thou has broken, The will of the young and the glad. A song of the outcasts and martyrs, …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Whether the Motive of Anger is Always Something done against the one who is Angry?
Objection 1: It would seem that the motive of anger is not always something done against the one who is angry. Because man, by sinning, can do nothing against God; since it is written (Job 35:6): "If thy iniquities be multiplied, what shalt thou do against Him?" And yet God is spoken of as being angry with man on account of sin, according to Ps. 105:40: "The Lord was exceedingly angry with His people." Therefore it is not always on account of something done against him, that a man is angry. Objection …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether a Man May Merit Anything from God?
Objection 1: It would seem that a man can merit nothing from God. For no one, it would seem, merits by giving another his due. But by all the good we do, we cannot make sufficient return to God, since yet more is His due, as also the Philosopher says (Ethic. viii, 14). Hence it is written (Lk. 17:10): "When you have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do." Therefore a man can merit nothing from God. Objection 2: Further, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Beneficence is an Act of Charity?
Objection 1: It would seem that beneficence is not an act of charity. For charity is chiefly directed to God. Now we cannot benefit God, according to Job 35:7: "What shalt thou give Him? or what shall He receive of thy hand?" Therefore beneficence is not an act of charity. Objection 2: Further, beneficence consists chiefly in making gifts. But this belongs to liberality. Therefore beneficence is an act of liberality and not of charity. Objection 3: Further, what a man gives, he gives either as being …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether a Human Action is Meritorious or Demeritorious Before God, According as it is Good or Evil?
Objection 1: It would seem that man's actions, good or evil, are not meritorious or demeritorious in the sight of God. Because, as stated above [1202](A[3]), merit and demerit imply relation to retribution for good or harm done to another. But a man's action, good or evil, does no good or harm to God; for it is written (Job 35:6,7): "If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt Him? . . . And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give Him?" Therefore a human action, good or evil, is not meritorious or demeritorious …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Sin is Aggravated by Reason of Its Causing More Harm?
Objection 1: It would seem that a sin is not aggravated by reason of its causing more harm. Because the harm done is an issue consequent to the sinful act. But the issue of an act does not add to its goodness or malice, as stated above ([1736]Q[20], A[5]). Therefore a sin is not aggravated on account of its causing more harm. Objection 2: Further, harm is inflicted by sins against our neighbor. Because no one wishes to harm himself: and no one can harm God, according to Job 35:6, 8: "If thy iniquities …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man
THERE are not a few difficulties in the account, which Moses has given of the creation of the world, and of the formation, and temptation, and fall of our first parents. Some by the six days of the creation have understood as many years. Whilst others have thought the creation of the world instantaneous: and that the number of days mentioned by Moses is only intended to assist our conception, who are best able to think of things in order of succession. No one part of this account is fuller of difficulties, …
Nathaniel Lardner—An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man

The Advanced Christian Reminded of the Mercies of God, and Exhorted to the Exercise of Habitual Love to Him, and Joy in Him.
1. A holy joy in God, our privilege as well as our duty.--2. The Christian invited to the exercise of it.--3. By the consideration of temporal mercies.--4. And of spiritual favors.--5. By the views of eternal happiness.--6. And of the mercies of God to others, the living and the dead.--7. The chapter closes with an exhortation to this heavenly exercise. And with an example of the genuine workings of this grateful joy in God. 1. I WOULD now suppose my reader to find, on an examination of his spiritual …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Whether a Man Can Merit Anything from God
Whether a Man can Merit Anything from God We proceed to the first article thus: 1. It seems that a man cannot merit anything from God. No one merits a reward by repaying what he owes to another. But we cannot even fully repay what we owe to God, by all the good that we do. For we always owe him more than this, as the philosopher says in 8 Ethics 14. Hence it is said in Luke 17:10: "when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether it is Necessary for the Salvation of All, that they Should Believe Explicitly in the Mystery of Christ?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not necessary for the salvation of all that they should believe explicitly in the mystery of Christ. For man is not bound to believe explicitly what the angels are ignorant about: since the unfolding of faith is the result of Divine revelation, which reaches man by means of the angels, as stated above [2287](A[6]; [2288]FP, Q[111], A[1]). Now even the angels were in ignorance of the mystery of the Incarnation: hence, according to the commentary of Dionysius (Coel. …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

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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