What does Job 35:2 mean?
"Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?" - Job 35:2

Job 35:2 in the King James Version (KJV) reads, "Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?" This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Job, where Job's friends are trying to convince him that his suffering is due to his own sin and lack of righteousness.
The book of Job is a complex and often difficult text to interpret. It tells the story of a man named Job who is righteous and blameless in the eyes of God, yet he suffers unimaginable loss and hardship. Throughout the book, Job's friends try to convince him that his suffering is a result of his own sin, and they urge him to repent and seek God's forgiveness.
In Job 35:2, the speaker, Elihu, poses a rhetorical question to Job, asking him if he truly believes that he is more righteous than God. This question is meant to challenge Job's assertion that he is blameless and has not sinned. The verse reflects the theme of human righteousness and the limits of human understanding in the face of suffering and hardship.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its significance. Job's friends, including Elihu, are trying to make sense of Job's suffering within their own limited understanding of God and the world. They believe that suffering is a direct result of sin, and therefore they see Job's plight as evidence of his own wrongdoing. However, Job maintains his innocence and refuses to accept blame for his suffering. This passage reflects the tension between human understanding and the mysterious ways of God.
The symbolism in this verse lies in the contrast between human righteousness and the righteousness of God. Throughout the book of Job, the characters grapple with the concept of righteousness and the idea that human beings can never truly be as righteous as God. Elihu's question to Job serves as a reminder of the limitations of human understanding and the need for humility in the face of God's divine wisdom.
The verse also raises questions about the nature of suffering and the role of righteousness in the midst of hardship. It challenges the notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin, and it prompts the reader to consider the complexity of human experience and the mysterious ways of God. The symbolism of God's righteousness contrasts with the flawed righteousness of human beings, highlighting the need for humility and trust in God's wisdom.
Overall, Job 35:2 reflects the larger themes of the book of Job, including the nature of suffering, the limits of human understanding, and the righteousness of God. It challenges the reader to consider the complexities of human experience and the need for humility in the face of God's mysterious ways. The verse serves as a thought-provoking and challenging addition to the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends, and it invites the reader to grapple with the difficult questions of suffering and righteousness in the context of divine wisdom.
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Job 35:2 - "Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?"
"Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?" - Job 35:2
Job 34:35 - "Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom."
Job 35:16 - "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge."
Job 35:1 - "Elihu spake moreover, and said,"
Job 35:4 - "I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee."
Job 15:35 - "They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit."
Job 9:35 - "Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me."
Job 35:13 - "Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it."
Job 35:12 - "There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men."
Job 35:5 - "Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou."
"Elihu spake moreover, and said," - Job 35:1
Job 38:35 - "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?"
Job 35:10 - "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;"
"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom." - Job 34:35
Job 35:7 - "If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?"
Job 35:9 - "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty."
Job 35:15 - "But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:"
Job 35:11 - "Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?"
"I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee." - Job 35:4
Job 35:8 - "Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man."
Job 35:6 - "If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?"
Job 35:14 - "Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him."
"Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge." - Job 35:16
Job 31:35 - "Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book."
Job 35:3 - "For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?"
"Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it." - Job 35:13
"Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me." - Job 9:35
"They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit." - Job 15:35
"There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men." - Job 35:12