Job 11:6 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The secrets of wisdom, i.e. the unknown and unsearchable depths of God's wisdom and counsels in dealing with his creatures. That they are double to that which is, i.e. that they are far more and greater (the word double being used indefinitely for manifold, or plentiful, as Isaiah 40:2, Isaiah 61:7 Jeremiah 17:18 Malachi 9:12) than that which hath a being or existence, i.e. the secret wisdom of God is infinitely greater than that which is revealed to us by his word or works. The greatest part of what is known of God, is the least part of those perfections that are in him. And therefore thou dost rashly and foolishly in passing such a bold censure upon God's ways, and judging so harshly of his proceedings with thee, because thou dost not comprehend the reasons of them, and in judging thyself innocent, because thou dost not see thy sins; whereas the all-knowing God sees innumerable sins in thee, for which he may utterly destroy thee, though thou discernest them not. But the words are and must be rendered, either thus, that he hath double, i.e. abundant, wisdom, for so this Hebrew word signifies, Job 6:13, Job 12:16 Proverbs 2:7, Proverbs 3:21; or, that they are double to, or in, that being or essence, to wit, to God, of whom he is here speaking; or, to the being, i.e. to God, who calls himself by the name I am, Exodus 3:14, which signifies being; and who appropriates being to himself, Isaiah 45:18, I am, and there is none else besides me; as elsewhere he is said to be the only wise, and only Potentate, and only immortal being, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:15,16. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth, Heb. God lends, or gives, or forgives, thee part of thine iniquity, or of thy punishment; so far is he from dealing worse than thou deservest, as thou dost most falsely and wickedly accuse him.

Job 11:6

6 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.