The Meaning of Job 11:4 Explained

Job 11:4

KJV: For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

YLT: And thou sayest, 'Pure is my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

Darby: For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

ASV: For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thou hast said,  My doctrine  [is] pure,  and I am clean  in thine eyes. 

What does Job 11:4 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 11:4 mean?

for you have said pure My doctrine [is] and clean I am in your eyes
וַ֭תֹּאמֶר זַ֣ךְ לִקְחִ֑י וּ֝בַ֗ר הָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינֶֽיךָ

וַ֭תֹּאמֶר  for  you  have  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
זַ֣ךְ  pure 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: זַךְ  
Sense: clean, pure.
לִקְחִ֑י  My  doctrine  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֶקַח  
Sense: learning, teaching, insight.
וּ֝בַ֗ר  and  clean 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּר  
Sense: pure, clear, sincere.
הָיִ֥יתִי  I  am 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְעֵינֶֽיךָ  in  your  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.