Job 10:4
Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
Original Language Analysis
הַעֵינֵ֣י
Hast thou eyes
H5869
הַעֵינֵ֣י
Hast thou eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
1 of 7
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
בָשָׂ֣ר
of flesh
H1320
בָשָׂ֣ר
of flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
2 of 7
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
4 of 7
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִּרְאֶֽה׃
or seest
H7200
תִּרְאֶֽה׃
or seest
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
5 of 7
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Luke 16:15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern religions often portrayed gods as limited in knowledge or attention, able to be deceived or distracted. Job's question assumes divine omniscience (God doesn't have 'eyes of flesh') while wrestling with its implications—if God knows perfectly, how can he treat the righteous like the wicked?
Questions for Reflection
- How does divine omniscience both comfort (God knows our hearts) and disturb (He knows our sins)?
- What does Job's question teach about the difference between God's perspective and ours?
- In what ways does Christ as mediator bridge the gap between divine omniscience and human limitation?
Analysis & Commentary
Job asks if God sees like humans: 'Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?' The question challenges whether God shares human limitations in perception. 'Eyes of flesh' implies temporal, limited, mistaken vision. If God sees perfectly, why does He treat Job as though he were wicked? Job seems to suggest that God must be mistaken about him—an impossibility, yet the only explanation Job can conceive.
The question raises profound epistemological issues: divine knowledge versus human knowledge. Humans judge by external appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), often wrongly. God sees hearts perfectly. But if God sees Job's heart and knows his integrity (which God Himself testified, 1:8), why the harsh treatment? Job's logic is impeccable given his limited information (he doesn't know about the heavenly challenge).
The question anticipates God's answer in chapters 38-41: God's vision infinitely exceeds human perception. He sees the beginning and end, the purposes and outcomes Job cannot fathom. Divine omniscience should comfort (God knows we're dust, Psalm 103:14), but to Job it intensifies the problem—God knows Job is righteous yet afflicts him anyway.