Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

JOB 9:10KJV
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What does Job 9:10 mean?

Job 9:10 describes God as the one who does great things that are beyond human understanding and performs countless wonders. The verse emphasizes that God's actions are so extraordinary and numerous that people cannot fully discover or measure them.

In this part of the book of Job, Job himself is speaking to his friends while suffering and questioning his situation. He is reflecting on God's power and the mystery of God's ways, recognizing that God's works are far beyond what any person can grasp or explain.

The Hebrew behind Job 9:10

  • "doeth" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah): This word means "to do" or "to make," and here it highlights God's active role in carrying out great deeds, not just passively allowing them.
  • "things" (גָּדוֹל, gadol): This word points to things that are "great" or "mighty," stressing the scale and significance of what God does.
  • "out" (חֵקֶר, cheqer): This word means "searching" or "investigation," so the phrase "past finding out" suggests that God's works cannot be fully searched out or understood by people.
  • "wonders" (פֶּלֶא, pele): This word refers to things that are marvelous or miraculous, underlining the idea that God's actions are not just big, but also amazing and beyond normal explanation.
  • "number" (מִסְפָּר, mispar): This word means "number" or "count," so "without number" shows that God's wonders are too many to count, not just a few isolated events.

Why Job 9:10 matters

  • Job 9:10 clears up the idea that people can fully understand or explain everything God does; it highlights the limits of human knowledge compared to God's greatness.
  • The verse emphasizes that God's power is not only vast but also mysterious, which is a key theme in the book of Job as Job wrestles with suffering and the reasons behind it.
  • This verse connects to Job's ongoing conversation with his friends, showing that even in his confusion and pain, Job still recognizes the unmatched greatness of God.

Where else these words appear

“out” 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 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
  • Psalms 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

“past” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“wonders” Hebrew H6381 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
  • Job 5:9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
  • Psalms 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
  • Ezra 2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: