The Meaning of Job 11:10 Explained

Job 11:10

KJV: If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

YLT: If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

Darby: If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

ASV: If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If he cut off,  and shut up,  or gather together,  then who can hinder  him? 

What does Job 11:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 11:1-20 - "canst Thou By Searching Find Out God?"
Zophar waxes vehement as he censures Job's self-justification and his refusal to acknowledge the guilt which his friends attribute to him. There is some truth in his allegations, though it was cruel to goad Job with them, notwithstanding his repeated protestations.
It is quite true that many of us are filled with self-complacency, because we judge our best by others' worst. It may be also that we have a very poor conception of what God is and asks. It is best for us to strike our breasts with the publican and to confess ourselves the chief of sinners.
What a magnificent challenge is that of Job 11:7-12! Canst thou reach God's depths, or His perfections, or His heights? But, oh my soul, remember that through all His unsearchable depths God is love. For the closing paragraph see r.v. Job had said he could not lift up his face, Job 10:15, but when sin is put away, we may exchange glances with our Father. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 11

1  Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5  God's wisdom is unsearchable
13  The assured blessing of repentance

What do the individual words in Job 11:10 mean?

If He passes by and imprisons and gathers [to judgment] and who can hinder Him
אִם־ יַחֲלֹ֥ף וְיַסְגִּ֑יר וְ֝יַקְהִ֗יל וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶֽנּוּ

יַחֲלֹ֥ף  He  passes  by 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלַף 
Sense: to pass on or away, pass through, pass by, go through, grow up, change, to go on from.
וְיַסְגִּ֑יר  and  imprisons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
וְ֝יַקְהִ֗יל  and  gathers  [to  judgment] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָהַל  
Sense: to assemble, gather.
וּמִ֣י  and  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
יְשִׁיבֶֽנּוּ  can  hinder  Him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.