Job 11:2

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

American Standard Version (1901)

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

Bible in Basic English

Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

Free Bible Version

“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

King James (Authorized) Version

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Translation for Translators

“◄Should no one answer all that you have said?/Someone should certainly answer all that you have said.► [RHQ] Just because you talk a lot, ◄should that cause us to declare that you <are innocent/have done nothing wrong>?/that should not cause us to declare that you <are innocent/have done nothing wrong>.► [RHQ]

Unlocked Literal Bible

“Should not such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?

Noah Webster Bible

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

World English Bible

“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

Young's Literal Translation

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

Context

Zophar Rebukes Job

¹Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: ²“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? ³Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

Summary

In this verse, Zophar, one of Job's friends, speaks with a tone of rebuke and impatience towards Job, accusing him of speaking too much and lacking wisdom. Zophar implies that Job's suffering is a result of his sins and urges him to repent in order to receive God's mercy and restoration. This verse reflects the common belief in the Old Testament that suffering is a consequence of wrongdoing, highlighting the friends' misunderstanding of Job's situation and God's sovereignty in allowing trials for a greater purpose.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Should not the multitude of words be answered? - Some translate, "To multiply words profiteth nothing." And should a man full of talk be justified - איש שפתים ish sephathayim, "a man of lips," a proper appellation for a great talker: he is "a man of lips," i.e., his lips are the only active parts of his system.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Should not the multitude of words be answered?.... Zophar insinuates, that Job was a mere babbler, a talkative man, that had words, but no matter; said a great deal, but there was nothing in what he said; that his words were but wind, yea, in effect that he was a fool, who is commonly full of words, and is known by the multitude of them; and whereas he might think to bear down all before him in this way, and to discourage persons from giving him an answer; this Zophar suggests should not be the case, nor would he be deterred hereby from giving one, which he now undertook: some supply it, as Bar Tzemach, "should not a man of a multitude of words" (s), &c. a verbose man, a dealer in many words, and nothing else, should not he be "answered?" if he uses nothing but words, and there is no argument in them, they seem not to deserve an answer, unless it be to show the emptiness of them, expose a man's folly, and pull down his pride and vanity: and should a man full of talk be justified? or "a man of lips" (t), an eloquent man, or one that affects to be so; a man of a fine speech, who artfully colours things, and makes a show of wisdom and truth, when there are neither in what he says; is such a man to be justified? he would seem to be in his own eyes at least, if not in the eyes of others, if not answered; he would be thought to have carried his point, to have had the better of the argument, and to have got the victory by dint of words and power of oratory; for this is not to be understood of justification before God; for as no man is heard and accepted by him for his "much speaking", as was the opinion of the Heathens, so neither are any justified on account of their many words, any more than their many works; since, in a multitude of words there are often not only much folly and weakness, but vanities and sins, Pro 10:19; there is indeed a sense in which a man is justified by his words, Mat 12:37; when he confesses Christ, and professes to be justified by his righteousness, and believes in that, and pleads it as his justifying righteousness; he is justified by that righteousness; which is contained in the confession and profession of his faith; but this is not here meant. (s) "an abundans verbis", Beza; "an multus verbis", Mercerus, so Kimchi & Ben Melech; and most Hebrew writers take for an adjective. (t) "vir labiorum", Montanus, Beza, Drusius, Vatablus, Mercerus, Bolducius, Cocceius, Schmidt, Michaelis.

Job 11:2

Zophar Rebukes Job

¹Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: ²“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? ³Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

American Standard Version (1901)

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

Bible in Basic English

Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

Free Bible Version

“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

King James (Authorized) Version

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

“Should not such a multitude of words be answered? Should this man, so full of talk, be believed?

Noah Webster Bible

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

World English Bible

“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

Young's Literal Translation

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 11:2

Verse

Context

Zophar Rebukes Job

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Job 11:2

Zophar Rebukes Job

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes