The Meaning of Job 34:10 Explained

Job 34:10

KJV: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

YLT: Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Mighty to do perverseness:

Darby: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!

ASV: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore hearken  unto me, ye men  of understanding:  far be it  from God,  [that he should do] wickedness;  and [from] the Almighty,  [that he should commit] iniquity. 

What does Job 34:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 34:1-37 - The Almighty Must Be Just
Elihu stands in Job 34:10 as God's apologist. God's absolute and impartial justice is at all times a matter of untold comfort. There will be no cause of ultimate complaint, but from the lips of the holiest beings in the universe, most able to pass an opinion, the cry will ascend, "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God the Almighty. Righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages"¦. Thy righteous acts have been made manifest," Revelation 15:3-4, r.v.
Ponder those last words. God's righteous acts have not yet been made manifest; it is therefore foolish and wrong to pass judgment upon an unfinished program. Wait, mortal man, until, at the great white throne, God shall unfold His inner reasons. If it is not fit to say to a king, "Thou art vile," how much less to Him who lives through the ages, while the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 34

1  Elihu accuses Job for charging God with injustice
10  God omnipotent cannot be unjust
31  Man must humble himself unto God
34  Elihu reproves Job

What do the individual words in Job 34:10 mean?

Therefore you men of understanding Listen to me Far be it from God [to do] wickedness and [from] the Almighty to [commit] iniquity
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ אַ֥נֲשֵׁ֥י לֵבָ֗ב שִׁמְע֫וּ לִ֥י חָלִ֖לָה לָאֵ֥ל מֵרֶ֗שַׁע וְשַׁדַּ֥י מֵעָֽוֶל

אַ֥נֲשֵׁ֥י  you  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לֵבָ֗ב  of  understanding 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
שִׁמְע֫וּ  Listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
לִ֥י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
חָלִ֖לָה  Far  be  it 
Parse: Interjection, third person feminine singular
Root: חָלִיל  
Sense: far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be.
לָאֵ֥ל  from  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
מֵרֶ֗שַׁע  [to  do]  wickedness 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶשַׁע  
Sense: wrong, wickedness, guilt.
וְשַׁדַּ֥י  and  [from]  the  Almighty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
מֵעָֽוֶל  to  [commit]  iniquity 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָוֶל 
Sense: injustice, unrighteousness, wrong.