Bible Strands
Job 11:2
“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Zophar the Naamathite speaks to Job immediately after Job’s opening defense, posing a rhetorical challenge about the fate of his lengthy speech.
The words — The phrase רֹב דְּבָרִים (rov devarim) literally denotes "a multitude of words," paired with יֵעָנֶה (ye'aneh) meaning "will it be answered" and יִצְדַּק (yitzdak) meaning "will he be acquitted."
The thread — The tension between verbose speech and accountability recurs in Job 18:2, Proverbs 10:19, and James 1:19.
Why it lands — The verse explicitly questions whether excessive speech will escape rebuttal or receive vindication, requiring readers to confront the necessity of direct correction and measured speech.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Cross-references
- Job 18:2 “How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
- Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Job 8:2 “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
- Job 16:3 Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
- Psalms 140:11 May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
- Acts 17:18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.