Job 6:25
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Original Language Analysis
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
נִּמְרְצ֥וּ
How forcible
H4834
נִּמְרְצ֥וּ
How forcible
Strong's:
H4834
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, to press, i.e., (figuratively) to be pungent or vehement; to irritate
וּמַה
H4100
וּמַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הוֹכֵ֣חַ
but what doth your arguing
H3198
הוֹכֵ֣חַ
but what doth your arguing
Strong's:
H3198
Word #:
6 of 8
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
Historical Context
Wisdom literature values both truth and timing. Job's defense demonstrates that true words become forceful weapons when wielded without love (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Questions for Reflection
- When has someone spoken truth to you in an unhelpful way?
- How do you discern when to speak truth versus when to remain silent?
Analysis & Commentary
Job acknowledges truth's power: 'How forcible are right words!' but challenges his friends' application: 'what doth your arguing reprove?' The distinction between truth and its proper application remains crucial - correct theology wrongly applied becomes false comfort.