Job must never forget his position under a God whose righteousness is both impeccable and unassailable.
Elihu, a younger companion of Job, challenges the idea that a human could be more righteous than God when he asks, “Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s?’” (v.2). These words reflect Elihu’s conviction that Job, in his passionate defense of his own innocence, might be edging toward an inaccurate exaltation of himself over the Lord. This question confronts any notion that mortal righteousness can surpass or rival divine perfection. Elihu’s statement highlights that God’s righteousness is absolute and beyond reproach, pointing out that even the most faithful person still depends on the Almighty’s grace (Romans 3:23).
By asking this question, “Do you think this is according to justice?” (v.2), Elihu implies that someone insisting upon their superior merit in the face of suffering risks misrepresenting both God’s character and the true state of human imperfection. According to Elihu, pain and hardship do not prove that God is unjust, nor do claims of our own righteousness make us equal to the Creator. In the broader context, Job’s suffering tests the boundaries of human understanding and humility, reminding readers that trials can reveal our deep need for a God whose ways transcend our limited wisdom (Romans 11:33).
Elihu’s rhetorical inquiry also anticipates themes found in the New Testament, where Jesus underscores that God alone is truly good (Mark 10:18). The believer’s role is not to judge God’s fairness by earthly résumé, but to trust His unsearchable judgment and maintain humility that recognizes His unmatched wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). Consequently, Elihu’s words in this verse form a caution against self-righteous attitudes and an invitation to acknowledge our complete reliance on God’s gracious sovereignty.
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Job 35:2 meaning
Elihu, a younger companion of Job, challenges the idea that a human could be more righteous than God when he asks, “Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s?’” (v.2). These words reflect Elihu’s conviction that Job, in his passionate defense of his own innocence, might be edging toward an inaccurate exaltation of himself over the Lord. This question confronts any notion that mortal righteousness can surpass or rival divine perfection. Elihu’s statement highlights that God’s righteousness is absolute and beyond reproach, pointing out that even the most faithful person still depends on the Almighty’s grace (Romans 3:23).
By asking this question, “Do you think this is according to justice?” (v.2), Elihu implies that someone insisting upon their superior merit in the face of suffering risks misrepresenting both God’s character and the true state of human imperfection. According to Elihu, pain and hardship do not prove that God is unjust, nor do claims of our own righteousness make us equal to the Creator. In the broader context, Job’s suffering tests the boundaries of human understanding and humility, reminding readers that trials can reveal our deep need for a God whose ways transcend our limited wisdom (Romans 11:33).
Elihu’s rhetorical inquiry also anticipates themes found in the New Testament, where Jesus underscores that God alone is truly good (Mark 10:18). The believer’s role is not to judge God’s fairness by earthly résumé, but to trust His unsearchable judgment and maintain humility that recognizes His unmatched wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). Consequently, Elihu’s words in this verse form a caution against self-righteous attitudes and an invitation to acknowledge our complete reliance on God’s gracious sovereignty.