Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
The verse belongs to Elihu's instructive discourses or speeches in Job 32-36, also described as chapters 32-37. Those speeches form the third of the four parts of the book, after the prologue in chapters 1-2 and the debate between Job and his three friends in chapters 4-31 and before the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud in Job 38-41. Elihu continues the line of argument made by Job's friends and believes his wisdom can correct Job. The book treats human suffering and God's dealings with people, but its words are not all necessarily true simply because they appear in an inspired book, since its speakers can be wrong and true statements can be misapplied to Job.
The verse charges that Job is not just or right in defending and justifying himself and in speaking against God. It declares that God is far greater than man and has the right to answer him. That declaration is meant to convince Job that he himself is not so very great while God is everything. God's greatness above man is seen in His goodness, power, and wisdom as Creator, presented as Christ, who laid the earth's foundations, set its measures and cornerstones, and restrained the seas, so that the earth, its seas, and all its creatures belong to their Creator.
Job had asked for the Almighty to speak with him as a man, and God condescends to speak to His servant. He sets before him common things constantly before him that he could not understand, showing Job's folly in questioning God's providences and disclosing wonderful revelations to his understanding. Job makes no answer to Elihu's plea, but Job's later vision of God led him to pray for those who had misjudged him after his friends had falsely accused him and he had persisted in justifying himself. In the wider context of Job 33:12-29, physical affliction may be allowed to teach a person more truth.
The verse belongs to Elihu's instructive discourses or speeches in Job 32-36, also described as chapters 32-37. Those speeches form the third of the four parts of the book, after the prologue in chapters 1-2 and the debate between Job and his three friends in chapters 4-31 and before the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud in Job 38-41. Elihu continues the line of argument made by Job's friends and believes his wisdom can correct Job. The book treats human suffering and God's dealings with people, but its words are not all necessarily true simply because they appear in an inspired book, since its speakers can be wrong and true statements can be misapplied to Job.
The verse charges that Job is not just or right in defending and justifying himself and in speaking against God. It declares that God is far greater than man and has the right to answer him. That declaration is meant to convince Job that he himself is not so very great while God is everything. God's greatness above man is seen in His goodness, power, and wisdom as Creator, presented as Christ, who laid the earth's foundations, set its measures and cornerstones, and restrained the seas, so that the earth, its seas, and all its creatures belong to their Creator.
Job had asked for the Almighty to speak with him as a man, and God condescends to speak to His servant. He sets before him common things constantly before him that he could not understand, showing Job's folly in questioning God's providences and disclosing wonderful revelations to his understanding. Job makes no answer to Elihu's plea, but Job's later vision of God led him to pray for those who had misjudged him after his friends had falsely accused him and he had persisted in justifying himself. In the wider context of Job 33:12-29, physical affliction may be allowed to teach a person more truth.