The Almighty — we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
Elihu is speaking, and these are his last words to Job. The verse holds two truths together: no one can trace God out, and His power never turns into cruelty.
The last word before God speaks
Elihu's final words leave man with nothing to boast about — and that is what makes room for God to speak.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThese are the concluding words of his great, God-given testimony. They are to impress Job and all of us with the frailty, the nothingness of man. So men fear Him, because no one can know Him, however wise they are. This must be man's true attitude. This should have been Job's place before the Almighty. Elihu's beautiful and powerful testimony must have been a spiritual anaesthetic to Job. But more than that, it clears the way for the Almighty to speak.
Beyond the reach of searching
Study and argument both hit the same wall. That is why God had to make Himself known.
H J VineScience stands before the old, old mystery, and the old, old questions face her again. Science gives the same answer people gave long ago: "The Almighty — we cannot find him" (Job 37:23). That is true testimony. Science cannot search Him out, and human reasoning cannot argue its way to Him. Every proud human effort fails alike. But — blessed be His Holy Name — He has been pleased to reveal Himself in full, in the One whom all Scripture points to: the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Power that never oppresses
The verse does not just say God is strong. It ties His power to His justice. Older translations end it "He will not afflict"; the ESV reads, "justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate."
Leslie M. GrantHe is Almighty, and we cannot take the measure of His greatness. His power is greater than anything that could be set against it, from any direction (v.23). His judgment is supreme in wisdom. His justice is pure, untainted by anything questionable. He never oppresses in any way — unlike almost every human government, which oppresses to some degree.
Past measuring, yet trustworthy
Not knowing everything about God is not the same as knowing nothing. We cannot measure His greatness, yet we can trust it — and that trust ends in worship.
Samuel RidoutIf we do not see the sunlight behind the clouds, it is still there, and in due time the mists will be blown away. Here comes an awesome presence, a golden glow from the unknown, hidden north... It is the Almighty. We cannot fathom His greatness, but we know His uprightness is as great as His power. Let us bow in worship before Him. He does not listen to those who are wise in their own eyes.
Fear, not argument
God's power is beyond us, and everything He does is just. That leaves no room for putting Him on trial.
F. B. HoleJob did not know, and none of us know, how God exerts His supreme power. The Lord Jesus displayed His Godhead power when He stilled the wind and waves on the Lake of Galilee. He did so in mercy. Elihu ended his words by saying that with God, the Almighty, is "terrible majesty" — and yet everything He does is just. So we may think ourselves very wise in heart, Job included. Even so, we should stand before Him with fear, not with criticism and questions.
Summary
- Beyond finding — No search and no argument can trace God out. We know Him only because He revealed Himself in His Son.
- Beyond measuring — We cannot fathom His greatness. We do know that His uprightness is as great as His power.
- Beyond corruption — Power, judgment and justice meet in Him with nothing questionable mixed in. He never oppresses, as human governments do.
- Beyond argument — Everything He does is just. So the right response is fear, not criticism and questions.
- Beyond flattery — He does not listen to those who are wise in their own eyes. Elihu's last word shrinks man and clears the way for God to speak.