Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

JOB 11:7KJV
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Job 11:7 (KJV)

What does Job 11:7 mean?

Job 11:7 asks whether a person can discover or fully understand God by searching, and whether anyone can grasp the fullness or perfection of the Almighty. The verse suggests that God’s nature and ways are beyond complete human comprehension or discovery.

In this verse, Zophar, one of Job’s friends, is speaking to Job during their discussion about suffering and God’s justice. Zophar challenges Job’s desire to understand God’s reasons, pointing out that God is far greater and more mysterious than people can ever fully know. The verse highlights the vast gap between human understanding and the divine.

The Hebrew behind Job 11:7

  • "searching" (חֵקֶר, ḥēqer): This word means investigation or searching out, often with the sense of a deep or thorough inquiry. Zophar is emphasizing that no amount of human searching can uncover all there is to know about God.
  • "find out" (מָצָא, matsa’): This verb means to find or attain. The repetition in the verse (“find out God,” “find out the Almighty”) underlines the impossibility of fully attaining knowledge of God through human effort.
  • "God" (אֱלוֹהַּ, ’ĕlōah): This is a general term for God, used here to refer to the divine being Job is questioning.
  • "Almighty" (שַׁדַּי, shaddai): This title for God stresses God’s all-powerful nature, reinforcing the idea that such a being is beyond human reach.
  • "perfection" (תַּכְלִית, takhlit): This word means completeness or the utmost limit. Zophar is saying that even the furthest extent of God’s being is out of reach for people.

Why Job 11:7 matters

  • Job 11:7 reminds readers that, in the context of suffering and questioning, there are limits to what humans can know about God’s purposes and character.
  • The verse helps clarify that Zophar’s argument is not just about Job’s situation, but about the fundamental mystery and greatness of God, which is a recurring theme in the book.
  • This verse sets up a tension in the book of Job between human longing for answers and the reality of divine mystery, which shapes much of the dialogue that follows.

Where else these words appear

“perfection” Hebrew H8503 · used in 5 verses

  • Nehemiah 3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
  • Job 26:10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
  • Job 28:3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

“searching” Hebrew H2714 · used in 12 verses

  • Judges 5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
  • Job 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
  • Psalms 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

“Almighty” Hebrew H7706 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
  • Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
  • Job 29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

“God” Hebrew H433 · used in 56 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
  • Job 15:8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
  • Job 33:12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.