Job 35:5-8 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

Elihu, like Eliphaz (Job 22:2-3; Job 22:12), shows that God is too exalted in nature to be susceptible of benefit or hurt from the righteousness or sin of man respectively: it is themselves that they benefit by righteousness or hurt by sin.

Higher than thou - spoken with irony. Not only are they higher than thou, but thou cannot even reach them clearly with the eye. Yet these are not as high as God's seat. God is therefore too exalted to be dependent on man. Therefore, He has no inducement to injustice in His dealings with man. When He afflicts, it must be from a different motive-namely, the good of the sufferer.

Verse 6. What doest - how canst thou affect Him?

Unto him - that can hurt him (Jeremiah 7:19; Proverbs 8:36).

Verse 7. (Psalms 16:2; Proverbs 9:12, "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it;" Luke 17:10.)

Job 35:5-8

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.