Job 26:2
New International Version
“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!

New Living Translation
“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak!

English Standard Version
“How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

Berean Standard Bible
“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble!

King James Bible
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

New King James Version
“How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength?

New American Standard Bible
“What a help you are to the weak! You have saved the arm without strength!

NASB 1995
“What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength!

NASB 1977
“What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength!

Legacy Standard Bible
“What a help you are to the one without power! How you have saved the arm without strength!

Amplified Bible
“What a help you are to the weak (powerless)! How you have saved the arm that is without strength!

Christian Standard Bible
How you have helped the powerless and delivered the arm that is weak!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How you have helped the powerless and delivered the arm that is weak!

American Standard Version
How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

Contemporary English Version
You have really been helpful to someone weak and weary.

English Revised Version
How hast thou helped him that is without power! how hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You have helped the person who has no power and saved the arm that isn't strong.

International Standard Version
"What a help you are to the weak! How powerfully you deliver those without strength!

Majority Standard Bible
“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble!

NET Bible
"How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the person who has no strength!

New Heart English Bible
"How have you helped him who is without power. How have you saved the arm that has no strength.

Webster's Bible Translation
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

World English Bible
“How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“How you have helped the powerless, "" Saved an arm not strong!

Young's Literal Translation
What -- thou hast helped the powerless, Saved an arm not strong!

Smith's Literal Translation
How didst thou help to him of no strength? didst thou save the arm of no strength?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whose helper art thou? is it of him that is weak? and dost thou hold up the arm of him that has no strength?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whose assistant are you? Is he weak-minded? And do you sustain the arm of him that is not strong?

New American Bible
What help you give to the powerless, what strength to the feeble arm!

New Revised Standard Version
“How you have helped one who has no power! How you have assisted the arm that has no strength!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why do you try to help him who is powerless? Why do you try to save the arm that has no strength?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Why are you a helper without power, and have you saved the arm without strength?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
To whom dost thou attach thyself, or whom art thou going to assist? is it not he that has much strength, and he who has a strong arm?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: Who Can Understand God's Majesty?
1Then Job answered: 2“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble! 3How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight!…

Cross References
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Psalm 18:32
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Psalm 28:8
The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.

Isaiah 35:3-4
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees! / Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”

2 Corinthians 1:4
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Psalm 68:35
O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

Psalm 29:11
The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.


Treasury of Scripture

How have you helped him that is without power? how save you the arm that has no strength?

Job 12:2
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

1 Kings 18:27
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

helped

Job 4:3,4
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands…

Job 6:25
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Job 16:4,5
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you…

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Job 26
1. Job, reproving the uncharitable spirit of Bildad
5. acknowledges the power of God to be infinite and unsearchable














How you have helped
The phrase "how you have helped" in Hebrew is "מָה עֲזַרְתָּ" (mah azar'ta). The root word "עָזַר" (azar) means to help, support, or assist. In the context of Job, this phrase is deeply ironic. Job is responding to Bildad's previous speech, which offered little comfort or practical help. The use of "helped" here underscores the expectation of genuine support and the disappointment when it is not provided. In a broader biblical context, God is often described as a helper, emphasizing His role as a sustainer and protector of His people. This highlights the human need for divine assistance and the inadequacy of human efforts without God's intervention.

the powerless
The term "powerless" translates from the Hebrew "לֹא־כֹחַ" (lo-koach), meaning without strength or vigor. This word choice reflects the condition of those who are vulnerable and in need of support. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the powerless were often the widows, orphans, and the poor, who relied on the community and God's justice for protection. Job, in his suffering, identifies with the powerless, feeling abandoned and without strength. This resonates with the biblical theme of God's concern for the marginalized and His call for His people to defend and support them.

and saved
The word "saved" comes from the Hebrew "תּוֹשִׁיעַ" (toshia), derived from "יָשַׁע" (yasha), meaning to deliver or rescue. This term is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe God's deliverance of Israel from their enemies. In this verse, Job uses it sarcastically to point out the lack of true deliverance offered by his friends. The concept of salvation is central to the Christian faith, with ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ. This highlights the inadequacy of human efforts to save and the necessity of divine intervention for true salvation.

the arm that is feeble
The phrase "the arm that is feeble" in Hebrew is "זְרוֹעַ לֹא־עֹז" (zeroa lo-oz), where "זְרוֹעַ" (zeroa) means arm, symbolizing strength and power, and "לֹא־עֹז" (lo-oz) means without might or strength. The imagery of a feeble arm conveys a sense of helplessness and inability to act. In biblical literature, the arm often represents one's power or ability to accomplish tasks. Job's use of this phrase underscores his feeling of impotence in the face of his suffering and the ineffectiveness of his friends' counsel. This serves as a reminder of human limitations and the need for reliance on God's strength, as echoed in scriptures like Isaiah 40:29, which speaks of God giving power to the faint and strength to the powerless.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“How
מֶה־ (meh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you have helped
עָזַ֥רְתָּ (‘ā·zar·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5826: To surround, protect, aid

the powerless
לְלֹא־ (lə·lō-)
Preposition-l | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and saved
ה֝וֹשַׁ֗עְתָּ (hō·wō·ša‘·tā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

the arm
זְר֣וֹעַ (zə·rō·w·a‘)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, force

that is feeble!
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Poetry: Job 26:2 How have you helped him who (Jb)
Job 26:1
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