Job 41:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God declares that no one has given Him anything that He must repay, for everything under heaven already belongs to Him.
What Does Job 41:11 Mean?
God lifts His gaze from the creature to the whole created order. No one has put Him in their debt; He owes repayment to none, for all things under heaven are already His by right of making.
This sweeping claim of ownership is the ground of His freedom and the comfort of His people. Because everything belongs to God, His gifts to us are pure grace, never the settling of a debt. The apostle Paul takes up this very verse to magnify the riches of a God who gives without being indebted to anyone. We come to Him empty-handed and receive all things freely.
Job 41:11 in the Original Language
qadam (קָדַם), 'prevented' -- in older usage, to come before or confront first, here to place under obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 41:11
What does Job 41:11 mean?
God declares that no one has given Him anything that He must repay, for everything under heaven already belongs to Him.