The Meaning of Job 11:7 Explained

Job 11:7

KJV: Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

YLT: By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

Darby: Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

ASV: Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Canst thou by searching  find out  God?  canst thou find  out the Almighty  unto perfection? 

What does Job 11:7 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 11:7 mean?

Can the deep things of God you search out lo to the limits of the Almighty can you find out
הַחֵ֣קֶר ؟ אֱל֣וֹהַ תִּמְצָ֑א אִ֤ם עַד־ ؟ תַּכְלִ֖ית שַׁדַּ֣י תִּמְצָֽא

הַחֵ֣קֶר  Can  the  deep  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֵקֶר  
Sense: a search, investigation, searching, enquiry, thing to be searched out.
؟ אֱל֣וֹהַ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹוהַּ  
Sense: God.
תִּמְצָ֑א  you  search  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
אִ֤ם  lo 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
؟ תַּכְלִ֖ית  the  limits 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תַּכְלִית  
Sense: end, perfection, consummation, completion, completeness.
שַׁדַּ֣י  of  the  Almighty 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
תִּמְצָֽא  can  you  find  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.