Bible Strands
Job 36:5
Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Elihu addresses Job, continuing his discourse immediately after asserting that his own words are truthful and God is perfect in knowledge.
The words — כַּבִּיר (ka.bir) translates literally to "mighty," and יִמְאָס (yim.'as) means "despises" or "rejects."
The thread — The assertion that God does not despise the afflicted runs through Psalms 22:24 and Psalms 138:6, while the connection between divine power and understanding/wisdom appears in Jeremiah 10:12.
Why it lands — The text states that God's power is paired with impartial understanding and refuses to despise anyone; it demands the reader abandon the assumption that suffering signals divine rejection or partiality.
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
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Cross-references
- Psalms 22:24 For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.
- Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
- Jeremiah 10:12 The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
- Job 37:23 The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
- Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
- Jeremiah 32:19 the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.
- Job 9:14 How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
- Job 12:13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
- Job 26:12 By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.
- Job 31:13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,