Job 15:8

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

American Standard Version (1901)

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?

Bible in Basic English

Were you present at the secret meeting of God? and have you taken all wisdom for yourself?

Free Bible Version

Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?

King James (Authorized) Version

Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

Translation for Translators

Were you listening when God made all his plans? [SAR, RHQ] Or do you think that you are the only person who is wise?

Unlocked Literal Bible

Have you heard the secret knowledge of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Noah Webster Bible

Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

World English Bible

Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Young's Literal Translation

Of the secret counsel of God dost thou hear? And withdrawest thou unto thee wisdom?

Context

Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God

⁷Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? ⁸Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself? ⁹What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Summary

In this verse, Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, questions Job's wisdom and accuses him of listening to secret counsel. Eliphaz implies that Job's suffering is a result of his own wrongdoing, suggesting that he deserves the pain he is experiencing. This verse reflects the common belief in the Old Testament that suffering is a consequence of sin, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of discerning the truth and being cautious of false advice. Eliphaz's words reveal his misunderstanding of Job's situation and lack of compassion, highlighting the need for empathy and understanding when comforting those who are going through trials.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Hast thou heard the secret of God? - "Hast thou hearkened in God's council?" Wert thou one of the celestial cabinet, when God said, Let Us make man in Our image, and in Our likeness? Dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself? - Dost thou wish us to understand that God's counsels were revealed to none but thyself? And dost thou desire that we should give implicit credence to whatsoever thou art pleased to speak? These are all strong sarcastic questions, and apparently uttered with great contempt.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Hast thou heard the secret of God?.... Or, "in the secret of God" (a), in his cabinet council, what was said and done there? hast thou stood in the council of God? hast thou been one of his privy council, or counsellors, and been let into all the secrets of God, of his purposes and providence, and into the reasons of all his administrations, that thou talkest so freely, and boldly, and confidently as thou dost? Indeed Christ, the son of God, was the Angel of the great council; the counsel of peace was between him and his Father; yea, he was in his bosom, and privy to all his thoughts, designs, and decrees, and knew everything, what would be, and the reasons thereof; as well as the nature of his Father, his perfections, mind, and will, which he has declared: but could Job pretend to this, or anything like it? no, surely. Indeed there are some secrets of God which he makes known to his people, and no doubt, in some measure, Job was acquainted with them; such as the secrets of God's love, and of the covenant of his grace, which are with them that fear him; and such an one Job was, and with whom, in times past at least, the secret of God was, even his everlasting love in the open manifestation of it to him; which is a secret in the heart of God, till revealed and shed abroad in the hearts of his people; and so the "mysteries" of God, as some render the word, the doctrines of the Gospel, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the knowledge of them, is given to the sons of men; Job was acquainted with them, with the incarnation of Christ, redemption by him, and the resurrection of the dead; the secrets of Providence, though they may not always be known now, they will be hereafter; yea, God does nothing but he reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets Amo 3:7, as he did to Abraham his friend; and as for the purposes of God, which are the secret things that belong to him, and can never be known unless revealed, and when fulfilled, even those, such as relate to the election of men, their redemption by Christ, and the effectual calling, are made known by God's saving and calling them according to them: and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself? not keep it to himself without communicating it to others, which to do is to imprison the truth, and detain it in unrighteousness; as men have freely received, they should freely give; but he arrogated and ascribed wisdom to himself, monopolized it, and would allow no man to have any share of it but himself; he reckoned so highly of himself, as if he was the only wise man in the world; thus what he charged his friends with Eliphaz retorts upon himself, Job 12:2; as he does his own words in Job 15:9. (a) "in secreto Dei", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius. Schultens.