Job 34:2 — Word Study
WLCשִׁמְע֣וּ חֲכָמִ֣ים מִלָּ֑י וְ֝יֹדְעִ֗ים הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃
BSAHearshâmaʻ [listen and obey] my wordsmillâh O wise menchâkâm [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] give earʼâzan [pay attention, hearken] O men of learningyâdaʻ [having knowledge, perceiving, or discerning]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְע֣וּ | hear | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| חֲכָמִ֣ים | O wise [men] | Adj |
| מִלָּ֑י | words my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְ֝יֹדְעִ֗ים | and O [those who] know | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ | give ear | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine plural |
| לִֽי׃ | to me | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. |
| KJV | Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. |
| ASV | Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. |
| YLT | Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me. |
| WEB | “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. |
| BBE | Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me; |
The translations agree in conveying the imperative call to listen and pay attention.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with a clear imperative call to the audience, emphasizing the importance of their response.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָכָם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 34:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Elihu's Speechgenerated
Job 34:2 presents Elihu's appeal to the wise and learned, asking them to listen carefully to his words. This passage emphasizes the importance of discernment and understanding when discussing profound matters, as Elihu seeks to clarify the nature of God's justice and the human experience of suffering. The surrounding verses further elaborate on the necessity of discerning truth and righteousness, as seen in Job 34:3 and Job 34:4.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 1:5 | let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians 10:15 | I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. |
| 3 | 1 Corinthians 14:20 | Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׁמְע֣וּ, shim.'Ugenerated
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and implies not just the act of hearing but also listening with the intent to obey. It is often used in contexts where God commands His people to listen and follow His instructions, indicating a deeper level of engagement than mere auditory reception.
The imperative form here addresses a group, calling them to pay attention to Elihu's words. This reflects the expectation that the audience should not only hear but also respond with understanding and action.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, we reference the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which uses the phrase hear my words.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main imperatives: שִׁמְע֣וּ (hear) and הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ (give ear), which govern the actions requested of the audience. The structure emphasizes the importance of both hearing and understanding.
The order of the words places emphasis on the call to wise men first, indicating that Elihu is addressing those who are expected to have the ability to discern and understand.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew שִׁמְע֣וּ is rendered as σοφοί (sophos), meaning 'wise.' This choice highlights the intellectual aspect of the audience Elihu is addressing, suggesting that they are not just wise in knowledge but also in understanding.
The translation reflects a direct engagement with the audience's intelligence, reinforcing the expectation that they will listen attentively.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 34:2 shows Elihu asking wise men to listen to his words and pay attention to him. He emphasizes that understanding is crucial, as he wants to share important insights about justice and knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Elihu addresses those who are expected to have knowledge and understanding, indicating that he believes they are capable of discerning the truth.
Listening is crucial for understanding the message Elihu wants to convey, as he believes that the wise should be attentive to discern deeper truths.
This verse highlights the importance of knowledge and wisdom in understanding God's ways, a recurring theme throughout the Book of Job.
Elihu's respectful and direct approach encourages dialogue and understanding, showing the value of engaging thoughtfully with those who are knowledgeable.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I practice active listening in my daily life, as Elihu calls for in this verse?
- In what areas do I seek wisdom, and how can I engage with knowledgeable individuals to grow?
- What steps can I take to ensure I am discerning and understanding the words of those who speak truth?
- How can I apply the lessons from Elihu's speech to my conversations with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist references this verse to illustrate the importance of listening and discernment in understanding profound truths.
Hear my words, O ye wise men, and listen to me, ye learned. For the ear trieth words, and the throat discerneth meats by the taste.Early Church Fathers on Job 34 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 34:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHear my words, O ye wise [men],.... This is not an address to Job's three friends, as some think; for Elihu had expressed his displeasure at them, in condemning Job without convicting him, and
Read John Gill on Job 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. This chapter is addressed also to the "friends," as Job 33:1-33 was to Job alone.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 34 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleO ye wise men, who are here present, do you judge of the truth and reason of what I have said, and am further to say; for I am willing to submit all to the judgment of the truly wise.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 34 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 34:2 Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.Ver. 2. Hear my words, O ye wise men] And those are not many, Hosea 14:9. He excludeth poor Job, whom yet he had promised to teach wisdom, Job 33:33. And that he spoke not to the many it is probable, for they have not those auras perpargatas, that he calleth for in the next verse. Bοιωτες fere sunt, they are heavily eared for the most part, and of dull apprehension; Boeotum in patria, crassoque sub acre nati. To the other three then of Job’ s friends he applieth himself; whom because he had sharply reproved before, and that they may not think that he held himself the only wise man among them, he thus…
Read John Trapp on Job 34 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2–4. Elihu invites the wise among those who listen to him to attend to what he further says, and to unite with him in seeking to discover the right in this cause between Job and God.
Read Cambridge on Job 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHear my words, O ye wise men - Addressing particularly the three friends of Job. The previous chapter had been addressed to Job himself. He had stated to him his views of the design of affliction, and he had nothing to reply.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 34 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BiblePROOF FROM THE NATURE AND OF GOD THAT MAN HAS NO RIGHT TO DOUBT GOD’S OR JUSTICE. Chap. 34., Job 34:2-9. a.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 34 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.
Tyndale line
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, O ye wise men ; and give ear to me, ye that have knowledge.
Heare my wordes, ye wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.
Strictly literal
Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
“Hear, O wise men, my words, || And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you who have knowledge.
From the Latin
Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:
Simplified
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads שִׁמְע֣וּ חֲכָמִ֣ים מִלָּ֑י וְ֝יֹדְעִ֗ים הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃, and the Septuagint corresponds closely with this wording, with only minor variations in structure. The agreement indicates a consistent message across these texts.
שִׁמְע֣וּ חֲכָמִ֣ים מִלָּ֑י וְ֝יֹדְעִ֗ים הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 34:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Adj — AdjHAampa
מִלָּה (millah) means 'word' or 'speech' and can refer to a discourse or topic. It is derived from a root that suggests collective speech or utterance. The term encompasses various forms of communication, including answers and by-words. The Aramaic equivalent is also מִלָּה.
מִלָּה n.f. word, speech, utterance
base
H4405 מִלָּה
4405 millah mil-law'
from 4448 (plural masculine as if from milleh {mil-leh'}; a
word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic:--+
answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to
speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.
see HEBREW for 04448
מִלָּה (mil.lah) — speech.
word, speech, utterance
Aramaic equivalent: mil.lah (מִלָּה "word" H4406)
N-fp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHC/Vqrmpa
אָזַן (azan) is a verb meaning to listen or hear, derived as a denominative from a root suggesting the broadening of the ear. It encompasses the act of giving ear, being obedient, and specifically refers to God listening to prayers. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
[אָזַן] 42 vb. denom. Hiph. give ear, listen, hear
hear, perceive by the ear
of God, listening (with favour) to prayer
base
H238 אָזַן vb. denom. Hiph. give ear, listen, hear
238 'azan aw-zan'
a primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a
denominative from 241; to broaden out the ear (with the hand),
i.e. (by implication) to listen:--give (perceive by the) ear,
hear(-ken). See 239.
see HEBREW for 0241
see HEBREW for 0239
אָזַן (a.zan) — to listen.
1) to hear, listen
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to hear, listen, give ear
1a2) to be obedient, harken
1a3) to hear or listen to prayers (of God)
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine pluralHVhv2mp
er ('ozen; ous, otion, the latter word (literally, "earlet") in all the Gospels only used of the ear of the high priest's servant, which was cut off by Peter: Mt 26:51; Mr 14:47; Lu 22:51 (not 22:50); Joh 18:10,26):
(1) The physical organ of hearing which was considered of peculiar importance as the chief instrument by which man receives information and commandments. For this reason the ear of the priest had to be specially sanctified, the tip of the right ear being touched with sacrificial blood at the consecration (Le 8:23). Similarly the ear of the cleansed leper had to be rededicated to the service of God by blood…
Ear
Used frequently in a figurative sense (Ps. 34:15). To “uncover the ear” is to show respect to a person (1 Sam. 20:2 marg.). To have the “ear heavy”, or to have “uncircumcised ears” (Isa. 6:10), is to be inattentive and disobedient. To have the ear “bored” through with an awl was a sign of perpetual servitude (Ex. 21:6).
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs