Job 35:6 – “If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
In Job 35:6, Elihu speaks to Job about the nature of God’s relationship to humanity, particularly in terms of human sin. Elihu is reminding Job that God is not dependent on people in the way we often think. Job, in his suffering, has questioned if his actions even matter to God and why he is enduring so much pain despite his efforts to live righteously. Elihu’s response here points out that God’s greatness means He is unaffected by human sin or righteousness in the sense of being diminished or improved by our actions. Instead, our actions impact ourselves and others. Elihu’s message highlights that God’s worth and glory are beyond human impact, encouraging Job to view his suffering from a new perspective.
Historical Context
The story of Job unfolds during a time when suffering was often understood to be a direct result of sin, and prosperity was seen as evidence of righteousness. Job’s friends have spent much of their time insisting that Job must have sinned in some way to deserve his suffering. Elihu, however, offers a different view: he acknowledges that God’s purposes and character are not dependent on human behavior. This ancient perspective reminds readers that, while our actions matter deeply, they do not alter God’s nature or make Him any less sovereign.
Theological Implications
This verse touches on a key theological truth about God’s self-sufficiency. God’s greatness, holiness, and worth do not depend on human actions. While our obedience and sin are significant—especially in terms of our relationship with God and their consequences for us—God’s essential character is unchanging and unaffected by what we do. Elihu’s insight helps Job (and us) see that God’s motivations are not tied to a need for human validation or assistance. This truth can help believers move away from viewing God as reacting to human actions and instead see Him as a loving, sovereign Creator who engages with us out of love, not necessity.
Literary Analysis
In this verse, Elihu uses rhetorical questions to invite Job to reflect on his relationship with God. The questions are phrased in a way that emphasizes the grandeur of God and human limitations, encouraging Job to think beyond a transactional relationship with God. This literary technique shifts the focus away from the idea that human actions control or affect God and instead encourages readers to adopt a posture of humility. The poetic style of the book of Job allows these rhetorical questions to provoke deep reflection, helping readers engage with the mystery of God’s sovereignty and our place in His creation.
Relevant Biblical Cross-References
The Bible repeatedly speaks to the concept of God’s sovereignty and His independence from human actions:
- Psalm 50:12 – “If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” This verse reminds us that God does not need anything from us, for everything already belongs to Him.
- Isaiah 40:15 – “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” This passage emphasizes God’s greatness and the smallness of human achievements by comparison.
- Acts 17:24-25 – “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything.” This passage in Acts reiterates that God does not depend on us but chooses to relate to us out of love.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For today’s Christian, Job 35:6 serves as a reminder that God’s character and worth are constant, unaffected by our failings or achievements. While our sins have serious consequences—for our relationship with God, our lives, and those around us—they don’t lessen who God is. This truth can be comforting because it means that God’s love for us is not dependent on our perfection. Instead, He loves us from a place of complete self-sufficiency, which assures us that His grace is reliable and enduring. Elihu’s message encourages Christians to live righteously not to “earn” God’s favor but as a response to His already perfect love.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
This verse shows that God’s love is not based on human merit or performance. Elihu’s point that God is not affected by human sin or righteousness underscores the idea that God loves us purely, without needing anything from us in return. This can bring comfort because it assures us that God’s love is stable and not reactive to our ups and downs. Even though God does not need us to be holy for His sake, He desires a relationship with us for our good and growth. His love is a reflection of His character, not of our worthiness.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Job 35:6 connects deeply to the message of Jesus Christ, who came to bridge the gap between God and humanity. Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection were not motivated by a need to fulfill God but by His desire to bring us back into relationship with Him. In John 10:18, Jesus says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” This shows that Jesus’s sacrifice was freely given, motivated by love rather than obligation. Jesus’s life and sacrifice demonstrate that while God does not need humanity, He deeply loves us, to the point of giving Himself for our redemption. This connects to the truth in Job 35:6 that God’s actions toward us are driven by love, not dependency.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- How does knowing that God’s worth is unchanging affect the way I view my relationship with Him?
- Do I sometimes act as though my actions could earn or lessen God’s love for me?
- How can Jesus’s example of freely given love help me understand God’s motivations toward humanity?
- In what ways can I live righteously, not to earn God’s favor, but as a response to His love?
Job 35:6 calls us to recognize that God’s greatness is beyond our influence, freeing us to relate to Him out of love and gratitude rather than performance. Jesus’s example of sacrificial love shows us that God’s actions toward us are rooted in His nature and mercy, inviting us into a relationship built on trust and grace.