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Job 37:20

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Should God be told that I want to speak to Him? If someone tries to speak against God, they will surely be destroyed.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is expressing that it would be foolish and dangerous for a person to challenge or argue with God directly.

📚 Historical Context

In the Book of Job, Elihu is delivering a passionate speech to Job, who has been enduring severe suffering and questioning God's justice, as part of a larger dialogue among Job and his friends. Elihu emphasizes God's unmatched power and wisdom, using this verse to warn that speaking presumptuously to God could lead to one's destruction, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine sovereignty and human frailty. This highlights the cultural reverence for God as an all-powerful being who demands humility from mortals.

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