The Meaning of Job 11:6 Explained

Job 11:6

KJV: And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

YLT: And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, Some of thine iniquity.

Darby: And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

ASV: And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And that he would shew  thee the secrets  of wisdom,  that [they are] double  to that which is!  Know  therefore that God  exacteth  of thee [less] than thine iniquity  [deserveth]. 

What does Job 11:6 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 11:6 mean?

That He would show you the secrets of wisdom for [they would] double [your] prudence therefore Know that exacts [Less] from you God than your iniquity [deserves]
וְיַגֶּד־ לְךָ֨ ׀ תַּֽעֲלֻמ֣וֹת חָכְמָה֮ כִּֽי־ כִפְלַ֪יִם ! לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥ה וְדַ֡ע כִּֽי־ יַשֶּׁ֥ה לְךָ֥ אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ מֵעֲוֺנֶֽךָ

וְיַגֶּד־  That  He  would  show 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
תַּֽעֲלֻמ֣וֹת  the  secrets 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תַּעֲלֻמָה  
Sense: hidden thing, secret, that which is hidden.
חָכְמָה֮  of  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
כִפְלַ֪יִם  [they  would]  double 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: כֶּפֶל  
Sense: double, a doubling.
! לְֽת֫וּשִׁיָּ֥ה  [your]  prudence 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תּוּשִׁיָּה  
Sense: wisdom, sound knowledge, success, sound or efficient wisdom, abiding success.
וְדַ֡ע  therefore  Know 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יַשֶּׁ֥ה  exacts  [Less] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׁה  
Sense: to forget, deprive.
לְךָ֥  from  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹוהַּ  
Sense: God.
מֵעֲוֺנֶֽךָ  than  your  iniquity  [deserves] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.