Job 9:4
New International Version
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

New Living Translation
For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?

English Standard Version
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—

Berean Standard Bible
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

King James Bible
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

New King James Version
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

New American Standard Bible
“Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

NASB 1995
“Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

NASB 1977
“Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

Legacy Standard Bible
Wise in heart and mighty in power, Who has stiffened his neck against Him and been at peace?

Amplified Bible
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?

Christian Standard Bible
God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed?

American Standard Version
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—

Contemporary English Version
God is wise and powerful--who could possibly oppose him and win?

English Revised Version
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"God is wise in heart and mighty in power. Who could oppose him and win?

Good News Translation
God is so wise and powerful; no one can stand up against him.

International Standard Version
He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

Majority Standard Bible
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

NET Bible
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has resisted him and remained safe?

New Heart English Bible
For he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

Webster's Bible Translation
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

World English Bible
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?

Young's Literal Translation
Wise in heart and strong in power -- Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

Smith's Literal Translation
Wise of heart and strong of power: who was hard before him and shall be requited?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace ?

Catholic Public Domain Version
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?

New American Bible
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained whole?

New Revised Standard Version
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength —who has resisted him, and succeeded?—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against him, and had peace?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He is wise of heart and mighty in power; who is hardened against him and has peace?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; Who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For he is wise in mind, and mighty, and great: who has hardened himself against him and endured?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered? 5He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.…

Cross References
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.

Romans 11:33-34
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

Jeremiah 32:19
the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

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.

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.

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

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Isaiah 45:9
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’?

Romans 9:20
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?”

Ecclesiastes 7:13
Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?

Isaiah 14:27
The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

Psalm 33:10-11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’


Treasury of Scripture

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?

wise in heart

Job 9:19
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

Job 36:5
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

Psalm 104:24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

who hath hardened

Job 6:10
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Job 15:23-27
He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand…

Job 40:9
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Jump to Previous
Defied Face Good Great Hard Hardened Harm Heart Mighty Peace Power Profound Prospered Resisted Strength Strong Succeeded Unscathed Vast Wisdom Wise
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Defied Face Good Great Hard Hardened Harm Heart Mighty Peace Power Profound Prospered Resisted Strength Strong Succeeded Unscathed Vast Wisdom Wise
Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














He is wise in heart
The phrase "wise in heart" refers to God's profound and perfect wisdom. In Hebrew, the word for "wise" is "חָכָם" (chakam), which implies not just intellectual knowledge but also skillful application of understanding. The heart, "לֵב" (lev) in Hebrew, is often seen as the center of thought and emotion. Thus, this phrase emphasizes that God's wisdom is not just theoretical but deeply integrated into His very being, guiding His actions and decisions. Historically, wisdom was highly valued in ancient Near Eastern cultures, and attributing such wisdom to God underscores His supreme authority and capability to govern the universe justly and effectively.

and mighty in strength
The phrase "mighty in strength" highlights God's omnipotence. The Hebrew word for "mighty" is "גִּבּוֹר" (gibbor), which conveys the idea of a powerful warrior or hero. "Strength" is translated from "כֹּחַ" (koach), indicating not just physical power but also the ability to effect change and accomplish His will. This combination of wisdom and strength presents God as the ultimate sovereign, capable of executing His wise plans without hindrance. In the context of Job, this serves as a reminder of God's unparalleled power, which is beyond human comprehension or challenge.

Who has resisted Him
The rhetorical question "Who has resisted Him" implies the futility of opposing God. The Hebrew verb "קָשָׁה" (qashah) means to harden or make difficult, suggesting that any attempt to stand against God is not only difficult but ultimately impossible. This reflects a common biblical theme that human rebellion against divine will is doomed to fail. Throughout scripture, those who resist God, such as Pharaoh in Exodus, ultimately face consequences, reinforcing the idea that submission to God's will is the path of wisdom.

and prospered
The word "prospered" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁלֵם" (shalem), which means to be complete or at peace. It suggests that true prosperity is not merely material success but a state of wholeness and harmony with God's purposes. In the context of Job, this is particularly poignant, as Job's suffering seems to contradict the idea of prosperity. However, the verse implies that any apparent success in resisting God is temporary and illusory. True prosperity is found in alignment with God's will, even amidst trials, as ultimately demonstrated in Job's restoration and deeper understanding of God's nature.

Verse 4. - He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. The sense is strengthened if we omit "he is," and render, Wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who hath hardened etc.? God's combination of perfect wisdom with infinite strength renders it hopeless for any man to contend with him. Who hath hardened himself against him; and hath prospered? Job fully admits the wisdom of all that Eliphaz (Job 4:17) and Bildad (Job 8:3-6) have said, or hinted, with respect to his inability wholly to justify himself. No one has ever taken this line of absolute self-justification, and prospered.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[God is] wise
חֲכַ֣ם (ḥă·ḵam)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2450: Wise

in heart
לֵ֭בָב (lê·ḇāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

and mighty
וְאַמִּ֣יץ (wə·’am·mîṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 533: Strong, strength

in strength.
כֹּ֑חַ (kō·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

Who
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

has hardened [himself]
הִקְשָׁ֥ה (hiq·šāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7185: To be hard, severe or fierce

against Him
אֵ֝לָ֗יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

and prospered?
וַיִּשְׁלָֽם׃ (way·yiš·lām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate


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OT Poetry: Job 9:4 God who is wise in heart (Jb)
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