What does Job 35:4 mean?
"I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee." - Job 35:4

The Bible verse Job 35:4 is a part of the Book of Job in the Old Testament, which is a book that explores the theme of suffering and the question of why righteous people suffer. The verse itself is a part of a longer speech by Job's friend Elihu, who is trying to explain to Job why he is suffering. The verse, as quoted from the King James Version (KJV), reads:
"I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee."
In this passage, Elihu is addressing Job and telling him that he will answer Job and his companions. This is part of Elihu's attempt to justify God's actions and to explain to Job and his friends why they are suffering.
The Book of Job is a complex and rich text that raises many important theological and philosophical questions. One of the main themes of the book is the question of why suffering exists in the world. Job is a righteous man who experiences immense suffering, despite his faithfulness to God. His friends, including Elihu, try to explain his suffering by suggesting that he must have done something to deserve it. However, Job maintains his innocence and struggles with the apparent injustice of his suffering.
The verse Job 35:4 is significant within the context of the Book of Job because it captures the dynamic of the dialogues between Job and his friends. Elihu's speech, in which this verse is found, represents an attempt to provide a theodicy - a justification for the existence of evil and suffering in the world. Elihu argues that God's ways are beyond human comprehension and that humans should trust in God's wisdom and justice, even when they cannot understand it.
In this verse, Elihu is positioning himself as the one who will provide the answers and explanations for Job and his companions. He is presenting himself as a voice of authority and wisdom, who can clarify the reasons for their suffering. This sets the stage for the rest of Elihu's speech, in which he attempts to defend God's justice and wisdom, and to challenge Job's assumptions about his own righteousness.
From a symbolic perspective, the verse Job 35:4 can be seen as representing the human desire for understanding and explanation in the face of suffering. It reflects the universal human need to make sense of the pain and injustice that we experience. The verse also highlights the tensions and conflicts that can arise in human relationships when people are confronted with the mystery and complexity of suffering.
Overall, the verse Job 35:4 is a crucial part of the Book of Job, as it encapsulates the central themes and concerns of the text. It is a verse that speaks to the human struggle to understand suffering and to find meaning in the midst of pain. It also reflects the complexity of the human response to suffering, as Job and his friends grapple with their own understanding of God's justice and wisdom. In its broader context, the verse is part of a profound exploration of the nature of suffering and the human quest for answers in the face of life's most difficult questions.
Have questions about Job 35:4?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Job 35:4 Artwork
Job 35:4 - "I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee."
"I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee." - Job 35:4
Job 34:35 - "Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom."
Job 35:16 - "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge."
Job 35:1 - "Elihu spake moreover, and said,"
Job 15:35 - "They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit."
Job 9:35 - "Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me."
Job 35:13 - "Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it."
Job 35:12 - "There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men."
Job 35:5 - "Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou."
Job 35:2 - "Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?"
"Elihu spake moreover, and said," - Job 35:1
Job 38:35 - "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?"
Job 35:10 - "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;"
"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom." - Job 34:35
Job 35:7 - "If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?"
Job 35:9 - "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty."
Job 35:15 - "But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:"
Job 35:11 - "Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?"
Job 35:8 - "Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man."
Mark 4:35-41
Job 35:6 - "If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?"
Job 35:14 - "Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him."
Mark 4:35-37
"Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge." - Job 35:16
Job 31:35 - "Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book."
Job 35:3 - "For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?"
"Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it." - Job 35:13
"Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me." - Job 9:35
Eliphaz speaks to Job in Job 4.