Can man be justified compared with God, or he that is born of a woman appear clean?
וּמַה־יִּצְדַּ֣ק אֱנ֣וֹשׁ עִם־אֵ֑ל וּמַה־יִּ֝זְכֶּ֗ה יְל֣וּד אִשָּֽׁה׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
How can a human being achieve righteousness in the sight of God? Such a person is inevitably subject to punishment. As Job expressed, “I wished to come into judgement, and though I have not sinned, yet I suffer punishment,” Bildad responds by asserting that no man is truly righteous. He questions, “How could there possibly be just one righteous man? Therefore, your pursuit of judgement and inquiry is futile.”
Can any person be deemed righteous when measured against God? Or can someone born of a woman attain purity? This is what the blessed Job has reiterated, for every righteous individual is sanctified by God's radiance and not in comparison to Him. Human righteousness, when juxtaposed with the Creator, is actually unrighteousness, regardless of how swift one's transformation may be; the created being can never reach the status of the Creator. Upon creation rests the heavy weight of accumulated sin introduced by the serpent, and the woman, demonstrating vulnerability, acquiesced.
Thus, it is understood that humanity, born of a woman who has fallen into sin, inherits the frailty of that original transgression, as the foundation of the human race has become corrupt instead of flourishing in the vitality of its creation. Consequently, it is rightly posed, Can a man be justified who stands in comparison to God? Or can one born of a woman be considered pure? This essentially suggests, 'May mankind not succumb to pride against his Creator, but rather remember his origin and acknowledge his true nature.' Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize those who, through the Spirit's gift, are empowered to resist the flesh's weakness, radiate virtues, and perform miraculous signs. However, despite these gifts, there is no person who can navigate life entirely free from sin while inhabiting mortal flesh. Thus, he continues with further insight:
In his brief address to Job, Valdad refrains from elaborating on his previous ideas; instead, he views Job's desire to challenge God as irrational. He supports this perspective by highlighting the majesty and holiness of God, against which humanity appears as a mere insignificant creature.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS