Job 37:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, it is affirmed that while God is powerful and magnificent, He is also steadfast in His judgments and justice, surpassing human expression. Because of this divine nature, He remains unreachable for His creations, which are inherently fragile and vulnerable. Therefore, let not the esteemed and learned presume they can grasp the essence of the Unfathomable, nor should they seek to behold the Unseen.

Verse 23. Our understanding of Him is profoundly limited, as expressed in Job 37:23. Even if we acknowledge Him now, it remains insufficient. The knowledge we hold of Him is grounded in faith rather than in our physical perception. Yet, he further asserts, as if he believes he has gained insight, stating that He is great in strength, in judgment, and in righteousness, and that His essence is beyond verbal expression as found in Job 37:23. He is indeed great in strength; He triumphs over formidable foes by purging dishonorable vessels from His domain and transforming them into vessels of grace as noted in Matt. 12:29. He is great in judgment; although He may allow His chosen ones to experience trials, He ultimately raises them to a state of eternal glory.

After receiving no response from Job this time, Elihu makes another attempt to affirm the justice of God as demonstrated in the world (36: 1-4). He asserts that the Lord neither punishes unjustly nor remains apathetic toward the righteousness of the just (5-7). Suffering is sent to them as a means of purification from their sins; should they repent, He will bestow rewards upon them (8-11). Conversely, those who remain unrepentant and hypocritical will face severe consequences (12-15). Thus, Job will find salvation if he is indeed righteous (16, 17); however, if he persists in wickedness, nothing will save him from judgment (18-21). The inescapable truth is that one cannot evade the judgment of God, which is underscored by the magnificence of His creations (22-26).