Bible Strands
Job 4:3
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Eliphaz speaks to Job at the start of his first response, recalling Job’s recent pastoral activity to frame his current argument.
The words — יִסַּ֣רְתָּ (yi.Sar.ta) translates literally as “you have instructed,” and תְּחַזֵּֽק (te.cha.Zek) translates literally as “you strengthened.”
The thread — The command to strengthen limp hands and steady feeble knees reappears in Isaiah 35:3, Proverbs 10:21 connects the lips of the righteous to feeding many, and Job 16:5 documents Job’s own effort to provide verbal consolation.
Why it lands — The text first records Job’s past capacity to instruct and brace others, then requires the reader to evaluate how those same human words function when they confront unexplained suffering.
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, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Job 16:5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
- Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
- Hebrews 12:12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Deuteronomy 3:28 But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”
- Luke 22:43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.