Job 21:22
New International Version
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

New Living Translation
“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?

English Standard Version
Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?

Berean Standard Bible
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

King James Bible
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

New King James Version
“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?

New American Standard Bible
“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

NASB 1995
“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

NASB 1977
“Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

Legacy Standard Bible
Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

Amplified Bible
“Can anyone teach God knowledge, Seeing that He judges those on high?

Christian Standard Bible
Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges the exalted ones?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?

American Standard Version
Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

Contemporary English Version
Who can tell God what to do? He judges powerful rulers. *

English Revised Version
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Can anyone teach God knowledge? Can anyone judge the Most High?

Good News Translation
Can anyone teach God, who judges even those in high places?

International Standard Version
"Can God learn anything? After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.

Majority Standard Bible
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

NET Bible
Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?

New Heart English Bible
"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

World English Bible
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does [one] teach knowledge to God, "" Since He judges [those] on high?

Young's Literal Translation
To God doth one teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall he teach knowledge to God? and he will judge those lifted up.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?

New American Bible
Can anyone teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those on high?

New Revised Standard Version
Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing it is he who judges the proud?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do you teach God knowledge? For he will judge the proud!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall any teach God knowledge? Seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
21For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out? 22Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high? 23One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.…

Cross References
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?

Romans 11:34
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

1 Corinthians 2:16
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 45:9-12
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? / Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’” / Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands? ...

Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Psalm 92:5-6
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts! / A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Ecclesiastes 8:17
I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Romans 9:20-21
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

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

Isaiah 29:16
You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

Jeremiah 18:6
“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Job 9:4
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

Job 12:13
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.

teach

Job 40:2
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Isaiah 40:13,14
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? …

Isaiah 45:9
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

he judgeth

Job 34:17-19
Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? …

Psalm 113:5,6
Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, …

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Jump to Previous
Able High Highest Judge Judges Judgeth Teach Teaching
Jump to Next
Able High Highest Judge Judges Judgeth Teach Teaching
Job 21
1. Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7. Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16. Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21. The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27. The judgment of the wicked is in another world














Can anyone teach
The phrase "Can anyone teach" challenges the notion of human wisdom surpassing divine wisdom. In Hebrew, the word for "teach" is "למד" (lamad), which implies instruction or imparting knowledge. This rhetorical question underscores the futility of attempting to instruct the omniscient Creator. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine wisdom as supreme and unchallengeable, a theme prevalent throughout the wisdom literature of the Bible.

knowledge
The Hebrew word for "knowledge" is "דעת" (da'at), which encompasses understanding, insight, and discernment. In the biblical context, true knowledge is often associated with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). This verse highlights the vast chasm between human and divine understanding, reminding believers that God's knowledge is complete and perfect, unlike human knowledge, which is limited and flawed.

to God
The term "to God" refers to "אֱלֹהִים" (Elohim), a name for God that emphasizes His power and majesty. This name is used throughout the Old Testament to denote the Creator's sovereignty and authority over all creation. The verse implies that God, as the ultimate judge and source of all wisdom, is beyond human instruction or correction.

since He judges
The phrase "since He judges" uses the Hebrew root "שפט" (shaphat), meaning to judge, govern, or render a decision. This highlights God's role as the ultimate arbiter of justice. In the ancient world, judges were seen as figures of authority and wisdom, and this verse affirms that God is the supreme judge, whose decisions are just and beyond reproach.

those on high
The phrase "those on high" can be understood as referring to celestial beings or the heavenly host, often seen as powerful and exalted. In Hebrew, "מרומים" (meromim) suggests a position of elevation or authority. This emphasizes that even the most exalted beings are subject to God's judgment, reinforcing His supreme authority over all creation. This serves as a reminder of God's unparalleled sovereignty and the futility of questioning His wisdom and decisions.

(22) Shall any teach God knowledge? may be regarded as the hypothetical reply of the antagonist. If the reader prefers to understand these latter verses in any other way, it is open to him to do so, but in our judgment it seems better to understand them thus. The supposed alternative hypothetical argument seems to throw much light upon them.

Verse 22. - Shall any teach God knowledge? Job has been searching the "deep things of God," speculating upon the method of the Divine government of the world, he has perhaps rashly ventured to "rush in where angels fear to tread." Now, however, he cheeks himself with the confession that God's ways are inscrutable, his knowledge far beyond any knowledge possessed by man. Men must not presume to judge him; it is for him to judge them. Seeing he judgeth those that are high. None so exalted, none so advanced in wisdom and knowledge, none so venturesome in sounding depths that they cannot fathom, but God is above them, judges them, knows their hearts, and, according to his infallible wisdom, condemns or approves them. This is a chastening thought, and its effect on Job is to make him contract his sails, and, leaving the empyrean, content himself with s lower flight. Previously he has maintained, as if he were admitted to the Divine counsels, that the prosperity of the wicked was a rule of God's government. Now he goes no further than to say that there is no rule discoverable. Happiness and misery are dispensed - as far as man can see - on no definite principle, and, at the end, one lot happens to all: all go down into the tomb, and lie in the dust, and the worms devour them (vers. 23-26).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Can anyone teach
יְלַמֶּד־ (yə·lam·meḏ-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

knowledge
דָּ֑עַת (dā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

to God,
הַלְאֵ֥ל (hal·’êl)
Article, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

since He
וְ֝ה֗וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

judges
יִשְׁפּֽוֹט׃ (yiš·pō·wṭ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

those on high?
רָמִ֥ים (rā·mîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise


Links
Job 21:22 NIV
Job 21:22 NLT
Job 21:22 ESV
Job 21:22 NASB
Job 21:22 KJV

Job 21:22 BibleApps.com
Job 21:22 Biblia Paralela
Job 21:22 Chinese Bible
Job 21:22 French Bible
Job 21:22 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge seeing he (Jb)
Job 21:21
Top of Page
Top of Page