Bible Strands
Job 26:4
To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job addresses his companions during his discourse, using sarcasm to question the origin of their counsel.
The words — מִי (mi) means "whom?" and יָצְאָה (ya.tze'ah) means "has it gone out," structuring the verse as a direct inquiry into the source of the speech.
The thread — The motif of tracing speech to its origin runs through Job 20:3, where understanding prompts a reply, and Job 32:18, where a spirit compels words from within, while 1 Kings 22:23 contrasts human utterance with divine authority.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader identify the true authority behind human wisdom, requiring a clear distinction between divine inspiration and mere human presumption before accepting any counsel.
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
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:23 So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
- Job 20:3 I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding prompts a reply.
- Job 32:18 For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.