Job 9:11

"He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number."

Key Reflection

In the ancient Near East, Job 9:11 speaks to the awe-inspiring power and unfathomable wisdom of Yahweh. The original audience, familiar with the deities of surrounding cultures who were often associated with limited domains, would have been struck by this verse's assertion that God’s actions are vast and beyond comprehension, reflecting a monotheistic perspective where even the most sophisticated human minds cannot fully grasp or account for divine deeds.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Lo, he goeth by me -That is, he passes along - as in the silent movements of the heavenly bodies. “I see the evidence of his existence. I can see that God must be there - moving along by me in the orbs of night and in the march of the constellations, but I cannot see God himself. He passes by, or rather he passes over me (עלי‛ālay), as in the majestic movement of the heavenly bodies over my head.” This is, I think, the idea, and the image is exceedingly poetic and beautiful. The heavens are seen to move in silent grandeur. The northern constellation rolls around the pole. The others move on as a marshalled army. They go in silent and solemn order, and God must be there.

More from Job 9

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