Job 11:8
New International Version
They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

New Living Translation
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens— and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld— what do you know?

English Standard Version
It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

Berean Standard Bible
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

King James Bible
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

New King James Version
They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

New American Standard Bible
They are as high as the heavens; what can you do? Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

NASB 1995
“They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

NASB 1977
They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

Legacy Standard Bible
They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

Amplified Bible
His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven. What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). What can you know?

Christian Standard Bible
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

American Standard Version
It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

Contemporary English Version
They are higher than the heavens and deeper than the grave. So what can you do when you know so little,

English Revised Version
It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[God's wisdom is] higher than heaven. What can you do? It is deeper than [the depths] of hell. What can you know?

Good News Translation
The sky is no limit for God, but it lies beyond your reach. God knows the world of the dead, but you do not know it.

International Standard Version
These things are higher than the heavens, so what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol, so what can you know?

Majority Standard Bible
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

NET Bible
It is higher than the heavens--what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol--what can you know?

New Heart English Bible
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

Webster's Bible Translation
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

World English Bible
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Heights of the heavens—what [can] you do? Deeper than Sheol—what [can] you know?

Young's Literal Translation
Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

Smith's Literal Translation
The heavens being high, what wilt thou do? Hades being deep, what wilt thou know?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do ? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?

Catholic Public Domain Version
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?

New American Bible
It is higher than the heavens; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

New Revised Standard Version
It is higher than heaven —what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do you know the height of the heaven? Or the depth of Sheol? How can you know?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do you know the high place of Heaven or the depth of Sheol? From where do you know?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Heaven is high; and what wilt thou do? and there are deeper things than those in hell; what dost thou know?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Zophar Rebukes Job
7Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? 8They are higher than the heavens— what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol— what can you know? 9Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.…

Cross References
Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Ephesians 3:18-19
will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth / of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Proverbs 25:3
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Psalm 36:6
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like the deepest sea. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Isaiah 40:13-14
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? / Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?


Treasury of Scripture

It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than hell; what can you know?

It is as high as heaven.

Job 22:12
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

Job 35:5
Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

deeper

Job 26:6
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

Psalm 139:6-8
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it…

Amos 9:2
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

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Deeper Depths Grave Heaven Heavens Heights Hell High Higher Nether-World Outside Sheol Underworld Wilt
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Deeper Depths Grave Heaven Heavens Heights Hell High Higher Nether-World Outside Sheol Underworld Wilt
Job 11
1. Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5. God's wisdom is unsearchable
13. The assured blessing of repentance














They are higher than the heavens
This phrase speaks to the incomprehensible nature of God's wisdom and understanding. The Hebrew word for "heavens" is "shamayim," which often denotes the sky or the abode of God. In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the heavens were seen as the highest realm, beyond human reach. This imagery emphasizes the vastness and transcendence of divine wisdom, suggesting that it surpasses all human understanding and is beyond our grasp. The heavens, in biblical literature, are often associated with God's throne and His sovereign rule, reinforcing the idea that His ways and thoughts are far above ours (Isaiah 55:9).

what can you do?
This rhetorical question challenges human capability and understanding in the face of divine wisdom. It implies human limitation and the futility of trying to fully comprehend or influence God's plans. The Hebrew root "asah" for "do" often means to make or accomplish, highlighting the contrast between human action and divine omnipotence. This question serves as a humbling reminder of our finite nature and the need to trust in God's superior wisdom and purpose.

They are deeper than Sheol
"Sheol" in Hebrew refers to the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and mystery. In the ancient world, Sheol was considered the deepest part of the earth, a place beyond human experience and understanding. By comparing God's wisdom to something "deeper than Sheol," the text underscores its unfathomable depth and mystery. This depth signifies that God's knowledge encompasses all things, even those hidden from human sight, and that His understanding penetrates the very core of existence.

what can you know?
This question further emphasizes human limitations in the face of divine omniscience. The Hebrew word "yada" for "know" implies intimate knowledge or understanding. The question suggests that human knowledge is inherently limited and cannot compare to the infinite knowledge of God. It calls believers to a posture of humility and reverence, acknowledging that while we may seek understanding, ultimate knowledge belongs to God alone. This acknowledgment encourages faith and trust in God's perfect wisdom and timing, even when we cannot see the full picture.

(8) It is as high as heaven.--Literally, The heights of heaven; what canst thou do? it is deeper than the grave; what canst thou know?

Verse 8. - It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? literally, heights of the heavens; what canst thou do? But the meaning is probably that expressed in the Authorized Version. God's perfectness is unattainable by man's thought, as the heights of the heavens are by his feet. Deeper than hell; literally, than Sheol, or the receptacle of the dead (see the comment on Job 10:21). St. Paul speaks of the "deep things," or rather, "the depths" (τὰ βάθη) of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:10). What canst thou know? How small a part of the Divine nature can any man thoroughly comprehend and know!

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They are higher
גָּבְהֵ֣י (gā·ḇə·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1363: Elation, grandeur, arrogance

than the heavens—
שָׁ֭מַיִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can you do?
תִּפְעָ֑ל (tip̄·‘āl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6466: To do, make, to practise

They are deeper
עֲמֻקָּ֥ה (‘ă·muq·qāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6013: Deep

than Sheol—
מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל (miš·šə·’ō·wl)
Preposition-m | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can you know?
תֵּדָֽע׃ (tê·ḏā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know


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OT Poetry: Job 11:8 They are high as heaven (Jb)
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