Job 35:2 (KJV)

What does Job 35:2 mean?

Job 35:2 describes someone being challenged for claiming that their own righteousness is greater than God's. The verse questions whether it is right to say that a person's sense of justice or goodness could ever surpass that of God.

In this verse, Elihu is speaking to Job during their ongoing discussion about suffering and justice. Elihu is confronting Job for statements that, in Elihu's view, suggest Job believes he is more righteous than God. The verse highlights the tension in the conversation, as Elihu tries to correct what he sees as Job's mistaken attitude toward God's fairness.

The Hebrew behind Job 35:2

• "Thinkest" (חָשַׁב, chashav): This word often means "to consider" or "to reckon." Elihu is pressing Job to reflect seriously on whether his thinking is correct.
• "Right" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word means "justice" or "judgment." The focus is on what is truly just, not just what seems fair to a person.
• "Righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tsedaqah): This word means "righteousness" or "rightness." Elihu is pointing out the boldness of claiming one's own moral standing is higher than God's.
• "God's" (אֵל, El): This is a common word for God, emphasizing God's power and authority in matters of justice and righteousness.

Why Job 35:2 matters

• Job 35:2 addresses a key misunderstanding that can arise in times of suffering: the idea that human fairness or goodness could be superior to God's. This verse challenges that assumption directly.
• The verse helps clarify Elihu's role in the book of Job as someone who tries to defend God's justice, even when Job feels wronged or misunderstood.
• By focusing on the words for "justice" and "righteousness," the verse draws attention to the deeper question of what true righteousness is and who defines it—God or people.