Job 34:16

16 “Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

Job 34:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 34:16

If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this
Not as calling his understanding in question, as if he, had none; for Job was a very understanding man; he had not lost his natural understanding by his afflictions, see ( Job 6:13 ) ; nor was he without an understanding of divine things, as his speeches and answers show; but rather it is taken for granted that he was a man of understanding: "if" or "seeing" thou hast understanding, art a man of knowledge and intelligence, therefore hearken and attend to what has been said or about to be said; though, as some Jewish interpreters ^F1 observe, the word is not a noun, but a verb, and is imperative, "understand thou now, hear this"; and then the sense is, "if" things are so as before related, ( Job 34:13-15 ) ; then now understand this, take it into thy heart and mind, and well weigh and consider it:

hearken to the voice of my words;
either the preceding or following ones.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Jarchi, Bar Tzemach, in loc. so Cocceius, Schmidt, and Schultens.

Job 34:16 In-Context

14 If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

16 “Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

17 Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

18 For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’