The Church Fathers on this verse

Job 17:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.

Douay-Rheims

וְֽאוּלָ֗ם כֻּלָּ֣ם תָּ֭שֻׁבוּ וּבֹ֣אוּ נָ֑א וְלֹֽא־אֶמְצָ֖א בָכֶ֣ם חָכָֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Gregory the Great

6th centuryChurch Father

But all of you, shall you turn and approach Job. These words of encouragement are aptly directed towards the chosen ones, whom he invites into the eternal realm. He presents them with two fundamental actions: they must ‘turn’ and ‘come.’ They are to ‘turn’ by means of faith, and to ‘come’ through their actions. Alternatively, they should indeed ‘turn’ by renouncing wicked deeds, and ‘come’ by performing righteous acts, as it is written, "Depart from evil, and do good." Yet it is astonishing that it is added, "And perhaps I will not find a wise man among you." What does it signify that he calls them to wisdom while expressing a hope that wisdom might be absent among them, except that those who cling to their own flawed understanding cannot attain true wisdom?

Read more (172 words)

About such individuals it is written, "Woe unto you that are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight;" and to them he also warns, "Do not be wise in your own conceits." Thus, the same great preacher sought to lead those whom he found worldly wise to genuine wisdom by first prompting them to embrace foolishness, saying, "If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise." And the Truth itself declares, "I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to babes." Therefore, since those who consider themselves wise cannot grasp true wisdom, the blessed Job, concerned for the transformation of his listeners, rightly wishes that he could not find the wise among them. It is as though he were saying to them in everyday language, "Learn to see yourselves as foolish so that you may attain true wisdom in God."

Ireneus (Orda)

19th centuryCommentator

As Job senses the reality of death closing in and is unable to change his friends' doubts, he pleads with the Lord to intervene (16: 22; 17: 1-5). Addressing his friends with renewed assurance of his innocence, he asserts that they are mistaken and that his demise is imminent (6 - 16).

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.