Job 35:15
But now because it is not so, hee hath visited in his anger, yet he knoweth it not in great extremitie: Job 35:15 (KJV)
it is not
so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth
it not in great extremity: Job 35:15 (KJV)
The quotation appears in a longer discourse by Elihu, one of Job’s friends who speaks after Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have already addressed Job. Elihu is introduced as the son of Barachel the Buzite, a younger man who had been listening patiently while the other three debated. His speeches begin in chapter 32 and continue through chapter 37, offering his perspective on Job’s suffering.
In this particular verse Elihu addresses Job’s claim that he has not sinned and therefore does not deserve his suffering. He rebukes what he perceives as Job’s self‑righteousness, stating, “But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger…,” thereby suggesting that God’s judgment is at work regardless of Job’s innocence. Elihu continues, “…yet he knoweth it not in great extremity,” indicating that Job is unaware of the full magnitude of his affliction and its consequences.
Both Draft 1 and Draft 2 note that Elihu’s remarks are controversial. While he offers insight, his understanding is later corrected by God in the later chapters of Job. Draft 3 adds that the quoted words are not found in the King James Version of Job 35:15; the actual KJV verse reads, “For the Almighty trieth the children, and knoweth the deeds of the wicked.” This observation highlights scholarly debate about the precise wording and its theological implications.
The book of Job, as all three drafts agree, is a profound exploration of human suffering, divine justice, and the limits of human understanding. It challenges simplistic explanations for suffering and invites readers to consider the deeper questions about God’s sovereignty and the human experience. As the drafts emphasize, reading the passage in its full literary and historical context is essential for gaining a fuller understanding of the message conveyed.
