Job 4:3
New International Version
Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.

New Living Translation
“In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.

English Standard Version
Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Berean Standard Bible
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.

King James Bible
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

New King James Version
Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, you have taught many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

NASB 1995
“Behold you have admonished many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

NASB 1977
“Behold you have admonished many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, you have disciplined many, And you have strengthened limp hands.

Amplified Bible
“Behold, you have admonished and instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.

Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, you have instructed many and have strengthened weak hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, you have instructed many and have strengthened weak hands.

American Standard Version
Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Contemporary English Version
Remember how your words

English Revised Version
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.

Good News Translation
You have taught many people and given strength to feeble hands.

International Standard Version
Look! You've admonished many people, and you've strengthened feeble hands.

Majority Standard Bible
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.

NET Bible
Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands.

New Heart English Bible
Look, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

World English Bible
Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, you have instructed many, "" And feeble hands you make strong.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, thou didst instruct many, and thou wilt strengthen the weak hands.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.

New American Bible
Look, you have instructed many, and made firm their feeble hands.

New Revised Standard Version
See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, you have instructed many, and you would strengthen the hands of the weak
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For whereas thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the hands of the weak one,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper
2“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking? 3Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands. 4Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling.…

Cross References
Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. / Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Hebrews 12:12-13
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. / Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

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.”

Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. / Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

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.

1 Corinthians 8:1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Behold.

Genesis 18:19
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

and thou hast.

Job 16:5
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

Deuteronomy 3:28
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

Ezra 6:22
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

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Admonished Feeble Hands Helper Instructed Makest Others Strengthened Strong Think Weak
Job 4
1. Eliphaz reproves Job that the innocent do not suffer
7. He teaches God's judgments to be not for the righteous, but for the wicked.
12. His fearful vision to humble the excellency of creatures before God.














Surely
The use of "surely" in this context serves as an affirmation of certainty. In Hebrew, the word often translated as "surely" is "הֵן" (hen), which conveys a sense of assurance and emphasis. This word sets the tone for the statement, underscoring the speaker's confidence in the truth of what follows. It reflects a deep conviction, suggesting that the actions of Job in instructing and strengthening others are well-known and indisputable.

you have instructed
The Hebrew root for "instructed" is "יָסַר" (yasar), which can mean to teach, discipline, or correct. This word implies a role of guidance and mentorship. Job is recognized for his wisdom and ability to impart knowledge and moral guidance to others. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such instruction was highly valued, as it was seen as a means of preserving community values and ensuring the well-being of society. Job's role as an instructor highlights his righteousness and the respect he commanded among his peers.

many
The term "many" indicates the broad impact of Job's influence. It suggests that his teachings and guidance were not limited to a small circle but extended to a wide audience. This reflects the communal nature of ancient societies, where wisdom and instruction were shared widely to benefit the entire community. Job's reach and the number of people he influenced underscore his significance and the trust placed in him by others.

and have strengthened
The phrase "have strengthened" comes from the Hebrew root "חָזַק" (chazaq), meaning to make strong, encourage, or support. This word conveys the idea of providing support and fortitude to those who are weak or in need. Job's ability to strengthen others speaks to his compassion and leadership, as he not only taught but also empowered those around him. This action is a reflection of his character and the positive impact he had on his community.

their feeble hands
The imagery of "feeble hands" evokes a sense of weakness and vulnerability. In Hebrew, "feeble" is often translated from "רָפֶה" (rapheh), meaning slack or weak. Hands are symbolic of action and capability, so to strengthen feeble hands is to restore one's ability to act and work. This phrase highlights Job's role in revitalizing and encouraging those who were struggling, providing them with the strength and confidence to persevere. It paints a picture of Job as a pillar of support, offering hope and resilience to those in need.

(3) Behold, thou hast instructed many.--There is a conspicuous want of feeling in Eliphaz. Without any true sympathy, however, he may have given the outward signs of it (Job 2:12-13). He charges Job with inability to derive from his own principles that support which he had expected them to afford to others, and seems almost to rejoice malevolently that one who had been so great a help to others was now in need of help himself. "Calamity touches thee, and thou art overwhelmed by it."

Verse 3. - Behold, thou hast instructed many; or, corrected many. When others have been afflicted and murmured, thou hast corrected them, and shown them that they were suffering only what they deserved to suffer. In so doing, thou hast strengthened the weak hands; "given moral strength," i.e., "to those who were morally weak," upheld them, saved them from impatient words and hard thoughts of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Surely
הִ֭נֵּה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

you have instructed
יִסַּ֣רְתָּ (yis·sar·tā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

many,
רַבִּ֑ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

and have strengthened
תְּחַזֵּֽק׃ (tə·ḥaz·zêq)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

their feeble
רָפ֣וֹת (rā·p̄ō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7504: An Israelite in the line of Saul

hands.
וְיָדַ֖יִם (wə·yā·ḏa·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - fd
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT Poetry: Job 4:3 Behold you have instructed many you have (Jb)
Job 4:2
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