But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
The verse stands inside the extended dispute between Job and his three friends over the meaning of his afflictions. Within that dispute it comes in Zophar's first speech, where the burden pressed upon Job is to repent. Because it belongs to the friends' argument, it is not a reliable statement of God's judgment on Job, for their words were often true in general but misapplied to his case. Joined to the next verse, it teaches that claiming to be perfect reveals ignorance of God.
The verse stands inside the extended dispute between Job and his three friends over the meaning of his afflictions. Within that dispute it comes in Zophar's first speech, where the burden pressed upon Job is to repent. Because it belongs to the friends' argument, it is not a reliable statement of God's judgment on Job, for their words were often true in general but misapplied to his case. Joined to the next verse, it teaches that claiming to be perfect reveals ignorance of God.