Job 35:7 – “If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
In Job 35:7, Elihu, one of Job’s friends, speaks to Job about the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. Elihu is essentially asking, “If you live a righteous life, how does that benefit God?” Elihu’s point here is that God does not need human goodness to make Him more complete. God is already perfectly holy and powerful. Therefore, our righteousness doesn’t add anything to Him. This challenges the mindset that human goodness can somehow “pay back” God or earn special favor. Instead, righteousness is about living in alignment with God’s will, but it doesn’t change God’s essence or make Him more complete.
Historical Context
The book of Job is set in an ancient culture where suffering was often thought to be a punishment for wrongdoing and prosperity a sign of righteousness. Job’s suffering doesn’t make sense to him, as he has tried to live an upright life. He struggles with why God would allow such pain if he’s been faithful. Elihu, the youngest among Job’s friends, offers a new perspective, emphasizing that God’s nature and justice are not bound by human behavior. By pointing out that God does not need human righteousness, Elihu reminds Job that God’s actions toward people are based on His own purposes, not on human merit.
Theological Implications
This verse points to a fundamental theological truth: God is self-sufficient. God is complete in Himself and doesn’t need human righteousness to sustain Him. Our acts of goodness, while important for us and others, do not add to God’s glory or make Him greater. This challenges us to see that our relationship with God is not transactional; we don’t earn His love or approval by being good, nor do we complete Him. Rather, we are invited to righteousness as a response to God’s holiness and love. Elihu’s message reinforces the idea that God’s love and relationship with us come from His grace, not out of need or dependence.
Literary Analysis
Job 35:7 is part of a poetic speech in which Elihu uses rhetorical questions to challenge Job’s thinking. By asking, “What does [God] receive from your hand?” Elihu is prompting Job (and readers) to reconsider the idea that God “needs” anything from humanity. This rhetorical technique emphasizes the humility that should come with our understanding of God’s greatness. The language is direct, pushing Job to acknowledge God’s unchanging nature. This method also highlights the majesty and self-sufficiency of God, encouraging readers to reflect on their motivations for pursuing righteousness.
Relevant Biblical Cross-References
Scripture offers multiple passages that touch on God’s independence from human actions and His self-sufficiency:
- Psalm 50:9-12 – “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills… If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” This passage reminds us that God owns everything and does not need human offerings.
- Isaiah 64:6 – “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” This verse reflects that human righteousness, compared to God’s holiness, falls short and cannot add to His perfection.
- 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.” Paul here reinforces the truth that God does not depend on humans to fulfill Him in any way.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For today’s Christian, Job 35:7 serves as a reminder that our relationship with God isn’t about earning His favor or adding to His greatness. Instead, we are called to be righteous as a way to honor Him and reflect His character, but not to earn His love or complete Him. This truth can free us from performance-based religion and help us focus on a genuine, loving relationship with God. Living righteously becomes a response to who God is, rather than a way to gain something from Him.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
This verse underscores the depth of God’s love. Since God does not need us to make Him complete, His love is not based on obligation or a lack within Himself. Instead, His love for us is pure and given freely. He invites us into a relationship not because we have something He needs, but because He delights in sharing His love with us. God’s self-sufficiency doesn’t create distance; rather, it shows that His love is constant and unchanging, not influenced by our failures or successes.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Job 35:7 connects to Jesus, who came to fulfill God’s love for us, even though God didn’t need our righteousness. Jesus came to save us and to give us a way back to God—not because God was incomplete without us, but because He desired a relationship with us out of His great love. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This reflects God’s intention to bless us, not because it fulfills Him, but because of His deep love for us. Jesus’s sacrifice is the ultimate display of God’s self-sufficient love, giving Himself for us without expecting anything in return to complete Him.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- How does knowing that God doesn’t “need” my righteousness change the way I approach my faith?
- In what ways can I show gratitude for God’s self-sufficient love, rather than trying to “earn” His favor?
- How does Jesus’s life and sacrifice help me understand that God’s actions are motivated by love rather than need?
- How can I encourage others to see their relationship with God as a response to His love, not as a means of earning His acceptance?
Job 35:7 invites us to a deeper understanding of God’s greatness and self-sufficiency. As Jesus showed, God’s love is freely given, not earned, encouraging us to live righteously as a grateful response to His love and grace.