Job 35:3 - That you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
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What does "Job 35:3" mean?
Job 35:3 is a complex verse, and its meaning hinges on understanding the context of Elihu's speech to Job. Elihu is essentially accusing Job of questioning God's justice. Let's break it down:
"That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you?'" This refers to Job's perceived lack of reward for being righteous. Job, in his suffering, is wondering what benefit he gets from being pious. He's thinking along the lines of: "If I'm suffering just as much as a wicked person, what's the point of being good?"
"What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'" This reinforces the first part of the verse. Job is questioning whether there's any tangible difference between living a righteous life and a sinful one, especially in light of his intense suffering. He's suggesting that he might as well have sinned, since he's being punished so harshly anyway. He sees no benefit in his righteousness compared to the potential for sin.
In essence, Elihu is accusing Job of the following:
Self-centeredness: Job is focusing on the personal benefit he gets from serving God. He's viewing righteousness as a transaction – he expects a reward for his good behavior.
Questioning God's Justice: By implying that there's no advantage to righteousness, Job is implicitly questioning whether God is fair or just. He's suggesting that God is treating the righteous and the wicked the same.
Undermining the Purpose of Righteousness: Job's statement undermines the inherent value of goodness. Elihu (and later God) will emphasize that righteousness is valuable in itself, not just because of the potential rewards.
Key takeaways:
Job's Suffering and Questioning: Job's immense suffering has led him to question God's fairness. He's grappling with the problem of why bad things happen to good people.
Elihu's Perspective: Elihu believes that Job is wrongly focusing on personal gain and that he is diminishing God's justice. Elihu seeks to defend God's righteousness.
The Complexity of Faith: This verse highlights the complex nature of faith and the difficulties people face when they experience suffering. It raises questions about the nature of reward and punishment, and the motivations for righteous living.
Important Note: It's worth remembering that Elihu's words are not necessarily the definitive answer to Job's questions. God's response to Job later in the book will offer a different perspective, focusing on the incomprehensibility of God's wisdom and power, rather than simply justifying human suffering. Job's perspective, while flawed, gives voice to very human struggles in the face of suffering and perceived injustice.
Job 35:3 - That you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
What does "Job 35:3" mean?
Job 35:3 is a complex verse, and its meaning hinges on understanding the context of Elihu's speech to Job. Elihu is essentially accusing Job of questioning God's justice. Let's break it down:
"That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you?'" This refers to Job's perceived lack of reward for being righteous. Job, in his suffering, is wondering what benefit he gets from being pious. He's thinking along the lines of: "If I'm suffering just as much as a wicked person, what's the point of being good?"
"What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'" This reinforces the first part of the verse. Job is questioning whether there's any tangible difference between living a righteous life and a sinful one, especially in light of his intense suffering. He's suggesting that he might as well have sinned, since he's being punished so harshly anyway. He sees no benefit in his righteousness compared to the potential for sin.
In essence, Elihu is accusing Job of the following:
Self-centeredness: Job is focusing on the personal benefit he gets from serving God. He's viewing righteousness as a transaction – he expects a reward for his good behavior.
Questioning God's Justice: By implying that there's no advantage to righteousness, Job is implicitly questioning whether God is fair or just. He's suggesting that God is treating the righteous and the wicked the same.
Undermining the Purpose of Righteousness: Job's statement undermines the inherent value of goodness. Elihu (and later God) will emphasize that righteousness is valuable in itself, not just because of the potential rewards.
Key takeaways:
Job's Suffering and Questioning: Job's immense suffering has led him to question God's fairness. He's grappling with the problem of why bad things happen to good people.
Elihu's Perspective: Elihu believes that Job is wrongly focusing on personal gain and that he is diminishing God's justice. Elihu seeks to defend God's righteousness.
The Complexity of Faith: This verse highlights the complex nature of faith and the difficulties people face when they experience suffering. It raises questions about the nature of reward and punishment, and the motivations for righteous living.
Important Note: It's worth remembering that Elihu's words are not necessarily the definitive answer to Job's questions. God's response to Job later in the book will offer a different perspective, focusing on the incomprehensibility of God's wisdom and power, rather than simply justifying human suffering. Job's perspective, while flawed, gives voice to very human struggles in the face of suffering and perceived injustice.