Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
Zophar is the third of Job's friends. He answers a broken man by pointing to the size of God: higher than heaven, deeper than the grave, wider than earth and sea. The words are magnificent. But did he have any right to aim them at Job? And is "you cannot measure God" where the matter ends?
True words in the wrong hands
One writer goes through the speech line by line. He agrees with almost every statement, then rejects the use Zophar made of it.
William KellyZophar says some things that are very excellent — properly applied. He says, "Can you find out the deep things of God?" Well, nobody can; God must reveal Himself. "Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?" Only if God speaks. "Its measure is longer than the earth" — certainly. And the earth was far too small a measure. "And broader than the sea." He might have taken in all the universe. But Zophar's notion was all wrong.
The limit Zophar presses on Job rests on Zophar too.
Leslie M. GrantCertainly Job could not search out the depths of God's wisdom. Did Zophar think God has any limits? He is infinite, not limited in any way. Zophar applied his words only to Job, but they were just as applicable to Zophar too! But he thought himself so wise that he did not need to learn, as Job did.
Two rulers that fall short
The verse holds up two rulers against God: the land for length, the sea for breadth. Neither can measure Him.
Samuel RidoutThis, the finest part of the address, expands what he had just said... It is a noble description of God. Go up to heaven, and we find Wisdom; go down to Sheol, and it is still there. The earth for length and the sea for breadth cannot take in the measure of this attribute of God. Two passages come to mind: Psalm 139 in the Old Testament, and Ephesians 3 in the New. They describe the presence and power of God in the same way. But the Psalmist is glad that he cannot "drift beyond His love and care." In the New Testament we are overwhelmed, not by a dark and unsearchable mystery, or by an avenger who cannot be turned aside, but by "the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge."
Why God must speak first
If searching cannot cross that measure, knowledge of God must come from His side.
F. B. HoleOne serious effect of sin entering the world was that mankind lost the true knowledge of God. Once lost, no effort of man's will or intellect could win that highest and best of all knowledge back. "Can you find out the deep things of God?" was Zophar's question. In an earlier chapter Job confessed his own inability: "Behold, He passes by me, and I see Him not; He moves on, but I do not perceive Him." Since we cannot discover God, He must make Himself known to us. Revelation becomes a necessity. God reached the crowning point of that revelation when in Christ He made Himself known as Father.
Four dimensions, measured from the other end
One writer takes the two measures of verse 9 as pointing to God's plan in Christ. He also notes that Paul names the same four dimensions, but in reverse order.
George DavisonThis is the only place besides Ephesians 3 where Scripture names these four dimensions, so far as I know... "The measure ... longer than the earth" we believe refers to the counsel of God before time began, which will reach on to the new scene when time has ended. "Broader than the sea" would take in all things in heaven and all things on earth, headed up in Christ, and soon to be displayed in the world to come... Zophar speaks of the height, and depth, and length, and breadth. Paul, writing under divine inspiration, speaks of the breadth, and length, and depth and height. It is quite the other way round, for they were working from two different ends. Trying to reach what is spiritual through what is material is wasted labour.
Beyond Zophar's no
In Zophar's mouth the question allowed one answer: no. The same writer says the answer is different now, because we do not search the way Zophar searched.
George DavisonIn that day, and to Zophar in particular, the answer is a word of two letters: NO... If Zophar came to us today and in his sarcastic manner said to us, "Can you by searching find out God?" are we going to say NO? Thank God we are not. We can find Him out; yes, we have found Him out... but we have not used the means Zophar attempted to use, or we should not know any more about God than he did.
(Davison quotes an older translation here. The ESV reads, "Can you find out the deep things of God?")
Summary
- Measure — The earth gives length, the sea gives breadth. Neither is long enough for God, whose plan runs from before time began to the world to come.
- Misuse — The words are excellent. The aim is wrong. What Zophar said of Job was just as true of Zophar.
- Necessity — No effort of will or intellect can win back the knowledge of God. So God must speak first.
- Reversal — Job 11 and Ephesians 3 name the same four dimensions, but from opposite ends. Reaching for what is spiritual through what is material is wasted labour.
- Answer — In Zophar's day the question met a no. Today it meets a yes, found by other means.