Job 11:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Zophar asks whether anyone can fully search out God or comprehend the Almighty completely.
What Does Job 11:7 Mean?
Now Zophar turns to a theme of real grandeur: the unsearchable greatness of God. Can a human being, by his own searching, trace out the fullness of God or grasp the Almighty to perfection? The questions expect the answer no. Though Zophar uses this truth as a club against Job, the truth itself is glorious and right.
No mind can encircle God or weigh Him to the last measure. He is greater than our reasoning, higher than our reach, and we know Him only as He chooses to reveal Himself. Yet what we cannot achieve by searching, God gives by grace: He makes Himself known, drawing near to the humble. The One who cannot be found out by climbing has come down to be found. Reverent wonder, not despair, is the right response to a God this great.
Job 11:7 in the Original Language
Shaddai (שַׁדַּי), 'Almighty' -- an ancient name for God stressing His overwhelming power and sufficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 11:7
What does Job 11:7 mean?
Zophar asks whether anyone can fully search out God or comprehend the Almighty completely.