God’s immeasurable strength is always accompanied by tender mercy.
Elihu, one of Job’s friends, declares in Job 36:5 that “Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding” (v.5). This statement conveys that God’s immense power never causes Him to disregard or belittle anyone. In the setting of the Book of Job, which takes place in the land of Uz east of Canaan, this assurance holds special weight. Job, who likely lived around the time of the Patriarchs (roughly 2000-1700 BC), experiences profound suffering. Yet through Elihu’s words, we are reminded that the God who formed the stars and set the boundaries of the oceans (Job 38:4-11) is also the God who tends to each individual with compassion. His might is never dismissive.
When Elihu says that God “does not despise any,” he underscores the truth that God offers His kindness to all people. This aligns with the broader teaching of Scripture, which characterizes the Lord as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 103:8). That God is “mighty in strength of understanding” similarly reveals how His wisdom, beyond human comprehension, embraces the whole scope of our lives, our joys, and our difficulties. Much like Jesus in the New Testament, who invited “all who are weary and heavy-laden” (Matthew 11:28), Elihu’s depiction of God as a God of vast power wedded to deep kindness gives hope. He is both capable and caring, strong yet tender.
This profound combination of power and compassion should encourage every believer to rely on God’s greater wisdom. It foreshadows how Christ, possessing divine might, values even the most marginalized—reaching out to lepers and sinners (Matthew 8:1-3, Luke 19:1-10). Even when circumstances appear dreary or confounding, God’s inexhaustible knowledge ensures that He orchestrates events for good (Romans 8:28). Just as He did not despise Job’s plight, God does not dismiss ours, but redeems it for His greater purpose.
Set to dark mode
Job 36:5 meaning
Elihu, one of Job’s friends, declares in Job 36:5 that “Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding” (v.5). This statement conveys that God’s immense power never causes Him to disregard or belittle anyone. In the setting of the Book of Job, which takes place in the land of Uz east of Canaan, this assurance holds special weight. Job, who likely lived around the time of the Patriarchs (roughly 2000-1700 BC), experiences profound suffering. Yet through Elihu’s words, we are reminded that the God who formed the stars and set the boundaries of the oceans (Job 38:4-11) is also the God who tends to each individual with compassion. His might is never dismissive.
When Elihu says that God “does not despise any,” he underscores the truth that God offers His kindness to all people. This aligns with the broader teaching of Scripture, which characterizes the Lord as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 103:8). That God is “mighty in strength of understanding” similarly reveals how His wisdom, beyond human comprehension, embraces the whole scope of our lives, our joys, and our difficulties. Much like Jesus in the New Testament, who invited “all who are weary and heavy-laden” (Matthew 11:28), Elihu’s depiction of God as a God of vast power wedded to deep kindness gives hope. He is both capable and caring, strong yet tender.
This profound combination of power and compassion should encourage every believer to rely on God’s greater wisdom. It foreshadows how Christ, possessing divine might, values even the most marginalized—reaching out to lepers and sinners (Matthew 8:1-3, Luke 19:1-10). Even when circumstances appear dreary or confounding, God’s inexhaustible knowledge ensures that He orchestrates events for good (Romans 8:28). Just as He did not despise Job’s plight, God does not dismiss ours, but redeems it for His greater purpose.