Behold God is mighty and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.Job 36:5 Explainer Verse text: “Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.” (KJV) ## Introduction - In Plain Language: God is powerful and He doesn’t look down on anyone; His power goes together with wisdom. - Big idea: God’s greatness combines strength with fairness and understanding — He is strong but not cruel or contemptuous. - Key points: - God is described first as mighty — He has the strength and authority to act. - That might is balanced by a refusal to despise people — God is not contemptuous or dismissive. - His power is linked with wisdom or insight, suggesting thoughtful, just action, not blind force. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Job 36:5 is part of a long speech by Elihu (chapters 32–37). Elihu is a younger speaker who has been responding to Job and his three older friends, defending God’s justice and warning Job about questioning God. - Story timeline: The Book of Job is wisdom literature; although its setting is ancient and non-specific, it addresses universal questions about suffering and the character of God. The immediate audience is Job and his friends; the speaker here is Elihu, who is building a case that God’s ways are just even when mysterious. - Surrounding passage: In the verses just before and after, Elihu stresses that God is not arbitrary. He argues God examines people, corrects the proud, and ultimately cares for people even in their suffering. The nearby verses move from asserting God’s might to describing how God administers justice, disciplines to teach, and eventually shows compassion. ## Explanation - Quick take: This verse says: don’t imagine God’s power means He is harsh or scornful. God is both mighty and wise; His actions are governed by understanding, not contempt. - In Depth: - “Behold, God is mighty” — The speech emphasizes God’s sovereign power. In Job’s complaint about suffering, reminding the listener of God’s power sets the stage for a theological argument: God can and does act decisively. - “and despiseth not any” — This counters any idea that God is capricious, vengeful toward certain people, or that He takes pleasure in crushing the weak. Elihu insists God does not “despise” people — He does not treat them with contempt or disregard. - “he is mighty in strength and wisdom” — Elihu links raw power with intelligence and insight. The point is that God’s actions come from wise, purposeful strength. For readers troubled by injustice or suffering, the line intends to reassure: God’s might is ordered by wisdom and therefore ultimately just and meaningful, even if we don’t see the whole picture. - Practical nuance: Elihu’s speech is not a complete answer to every suffering situation; it’s a theological stance meant to defend God’s justice. Later in the book, God’s own speech (chs. 38–41) will challenge both Job and his friends in different ways. Still, Job 36:5 provides an important balance: God is powerful, but that power is not arbitrary cruelty. ## Key Words - hinneh (הִנֵּה) — “Behold” or “look”; a call to pay attention. - gibbor (גִּבּוֹר) — “mighty” or “heroic”; emphasizes strength and power. - lo (לֹא) + verb translated “despiseth” — a denial that God treats people with contempt or scorn. - ḥokmah (חָכְמָה) — “wisdom”; points to insight, understanding, or prudent counsel (often translated as “wisdom”). ## Background - Ancient cultural note: In the ancient Near East, gods were often thought to be capricious or partial. Elihu’s defense here highlights that Israel’s understanding of God combines overwhelming power with moral order. - Literary role: Elihu serves as a kind of intermediary voice — younger and less authoritative than the three friends but more direct in asserting God’s rightness. His speeches prepare the way for God’s own reply. - Historical placement: Job is timeless in setting (a non-Israelite patriarchal figure) but belongs to Israel’s wisdom tradition; it wrestles with how a righteous person can suffer and how God’s justice operates. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - God’s sovereignty is not arbitrary: His power is governed by wisdom and justice. - Divine might does not equal divine contempt; strength can be compassionate. - Trusting God means trusting both His power and His character — He is able and He is fair. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: When you feel crushed by powerful systems or unfair bosses, remember that ultimate power in the universe is not indifferent or scornful — God sees you and acts with wisdom. Let that shape how you treat others in positions of power and weakness. - For parents: Use this verse to model for children that true strength is gentle and wise, not harsh. Teach that being strong includes being just and kind. - For people suffering: This verse offers comfort that God’s strength is not vindictive; suffering is not automatically proof of God’s hatred. It encourages patience to seek God’s wisdom even in pain. - For seekers/doubters: If you worry that a powerful God would be cruel, this verse invites you to consider a God whose power is balanced by wisdom and care. - Reflection question(s): - Where do I imagine God as harsh or uncaring, and how does this verse challenge that image? - In what ways can I combine strength with wisdom in my own decisions? - Short prayer: God, remind me that Your strength is guided by wisdom and love; help me trust Your justice when I don’t understand. Amen. ## Translation Comparison - King James Version (KJV): “Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.” - English Standard Version (ESV): “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength and wisdom.” - New International Version (NIV): “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength and wisdom.” (NIV renders the sense in contemporary English.) - New American Standard Bible (NASB): “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.” - Why differences matter: Translators agree on the main point (God’s might and lack of contempt), but they differ slightly in wording about the second quality — “wisdom,” “understanding,” or “strength of understanding.” Those shades matter because they affect how readers picture God’s governance: is His power paired with philosophical wisdom, practical insight, moral understanding, or all of the above? Small differences shape emphasis but not the core message. ## FAQs - Q: If God “despiseth not any,” why does He discipline or judge people? A: Saying God does not “despise” anyone is not the same as saying He never judges or disciplines. In the Bible, divine discipline and judgment are often portrayed as corrective, loving, or just responses rather than acts of contempt. Elihu’s point is theological reassurance: God’s power is not rooted in malice. When God disciplines, the purpose can be restoration, correction, or the upholding of moral order — not mere humiliation or hatred. So discipline and justice can coexist with a God who “does not despise” mankind. - Q: How does this fit with Job’s suffering — is Elihu saying Job is being punished for sin? A: Elihu argues broadly that God’s dealings are wise and just, and sometimes suffering has a corrective or instructive purpose. However, Job’s case in the narrative is complex: the book ultimately shows that suffering doesn’t always map simply to personal sin. Elihu’s claim that God is just and wise addresses the larger picture — God’s action is purposeful — but it doesn’t give a neat one-line explanation for every instance of suffering. Later chapters, and God’s own speech, complicate quick cause-and-effect answers. ## Cross References - Job 34:10 — “Far be it from God to do wickedness…” (Affirms God’s justice.) - Psalm 147:5 — “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Links God’s might with wisdom.) - Isaiah 40:28 — “The Lord is the everlasting God… he does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” (God’s strength and wisdom.) - Romans 11:33 — “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (God’s inscrutable wisdom in action.) ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators see Job 36:5 as part of Elihu’s attempt to defend God’s justice and to correct both Job and his friends. Elihu emphasizes that God's power is not the same as cruelty — power is governed by wisdom. Some scholars note that while Elihu speaks boldly for God, his perspective is more theological assertion than full explanation; the divine speeches that follow complicate human attempts to fully explain God’s actions. - Group study bullets: - Read Job 36:1–12 and discuss where Elihu’s approach comforts or troubles you. - Compare Elihu’s view of God with Job’s complaints. What do each emphasize? - How does holding together “mighty” and “wise” change how we pray or act when life feels unfair? - Share a personal story where strength without wisdom caused harm — what would a wiser approach look like? ## Related verses (to compare and contrast — and why) - Job 34:10 — “God is not wicked, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.” Why: Another statement in Job that defends God’s justice, complementing 36:5’s link of power and right action. - Psalm 145:17 — “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” Why: Emphasizes God’s goodness alongside His power. - Isaiah 40:28 — “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Why: Shows divine strength paired with compassion and care for the weak, echoing the balance in Job 36:5. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to explore this verse in personal ways. Suggested prompts: - “Explain Job 36:5 to me as if I’m dealing with a painful loss right now.” - “Compare how the ESV, NIV, and NASB translate Job 36:5 and what that means for the idea of God’s ‘wisdom.’” - “How might Elihu’s claim in Job 36:5 shape a short prayer for someone who feels abandoned by God?”
