Job 11:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Zophar claims God's hidden wisdom would expose Job's guilt, and that Job is being punished less than he deserves.
What Does Job 11:6 Mean?
Zophar imagines that if God revealed the deep secrets of His wisdom, Job would see how far his understanding falls short. From this he draws a cruel conclusion: that God is actually treating Job more lightly than his sins warrant. In other words, Zophar tells a man who has lost everything that his suffering is mercifully small.
Half of this is true and half is false. It is true that God's wisdom runs deeper than we can fathom, and that none of us could survive being repaid in full for our faults. But Zophar weaponizes that truth, assuming Job's losses must be deserved. The reader knows better, for God Himself called Job blameless. Here we glimpse how the unsearchable depth of God's wisdom should make us humble, not harsh, slow to assign others the punishment we imagine they have earned.
Job 11:6 in the Original Language
taalumot (תַּעֲלֻמוֹת), 'secrets' -- hidden things, depths concealed from human sight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 11:6
What does Job 11:6 mean?
Zophar claims God's hidden wisdom would expose Job's guilt, and that Job is being punished less than he deserves.