Job 36:24 · Bible study
Job 36:24 Commentary: Remember to Magnify God's Work
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Elihu's command to magnify God's work, sung by humanity, redirects Job from complaint to praise of God's majesty in creation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Elihu commands Job to actively praise God's work, including his own affliction, because generations of people have sung of God's greatness.
- Key words: zəkhor (remember, imperative); saga Hiphil (magnify, make great); poὋal (work, deed); šoreru (they have sung/beheld).
- Main debate: Does šoreru come from šur (behold) or šir (sing)? The majority of versions and commentators choose 'sing,' linking the verse to Psalms; Barnes argues for 'behold' from the context of visible creation.
- Theological theme: Theocentric praise as the proper human response to God's actions, even when those actions are mysterious or painful.
- Best use: A pastoral call to shift perspective from complaint to worship, especially in small groups processing suffering or doubt about God's justice.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
KJV King James Version 1769
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Remember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Acuérdate de engrandecer su obra, la cual contemplan los hombres.
Lembra-te de engrandeceres sua obra, a qual os seres humanos contemplam.
Souviens-toi d’ exalter ses œuvres,
Gedenke daß du sein Werk erhebest, davon die Leute singen.
Gedenk, dat gij Zijn werk groot maakt, hetwelk de lieden aanschouwen.
Pensa piuttosto a magnificar le sue opere; gli uomini le celebrano nei loro canti,
Pamiętajże, abyś wysławiał sprawę jego, której się przypatrują ludzie.
Помни о том, чтобы превозносить дела Его, которые люди видят.
你不可忘記 稱讚他所行的 為大，就是 人 所歌頌的。
See that you give praise to his work, about which men make songs.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Job 36:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse is a pivot in Elihu's speech, summoning Job away from self-absorbed complaint toward deliberate praise of God's works. Adam Clarke writes that Job should 'attentively survey his works' instead of fretting against providence, letting nature lead him to the Creator. Barnes argues the command 'to remember that God is great in all that he does' corrects the narrow, self-centered view that judges divine actions by human standards. Gill explicitly counts affliction among God's works that must be magnified, 'ascribe them to God, and magnify him on account of them.' Keil & Delitzsch note that the Hebrew imperative zəkhor ('remember') carries the force 'memento = cura ut', a call to make praise a settled practice, not a fleeting thought. The verb tas‛gī (Hiphil of saga, 'make great') implies active, verbal magnification, not mere inward appreciation. The phrase 'which men have sung' connects Job to the ancient chorus of praise found in Psalms and wisdom liturgy (cf. Psalm 19:1-4). All the major commentators see the verse as redirecting Job's gaze from his personal grievance to the vast, ordered creation that testifies to God's wisdom and justice, a theocentric reorientation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Call to praise creation (majority): Most commentators read 'shoreru' as 'sing' and see the verse as redirecting Job's focus to God's visible works, especially in nature (vv. 26–33).
- Acceptance of affliction (Gill): Gill interprets 'his work' as specifically including chastisement; to magnify it means to submit patiently, since 'it is his own doing.'
- Rhetorical silencing (Barnes): Barnes reads 'behold' and argues the point is to stop judging divine actions by human standards; the command to 'remember that he is great' functions as a rebuke.
What is clear: All readings affirm that Job is commanded to actively praise God's deeds, and that his complaint must give way to a posture of reverence before God's transcendent greatness.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the verb 'shoreru' (sing vs. behold) | The Hebrew form can be read either way; most English translations since the KJV choose 'sing' or 'celebrate,' following the Vulgate and Targum. | Barnes and a few others argue for 'behold' (from shur) because the context of verses 24, 25 emphasizes seeing God's work. Keil & Delitzsch and most moderns hold that Elihu deliberately connects his speech to the sung praise of the Psalms. |
| Scope of 'his work' (po'al), creation or affliction | All agree it includes creation and providence generally. | Gill specifically applies it to affliction as a 'rod in his hand' that must be magnified through patient submission. Others (Clarke, Matthew Henry) focus on visible works of nature; the difference affects whether the verse primarily addresses Job's personal suffering or the broader cosmic order. |
| How the verse addresses Job's complaint | The verse redirects attention from Job's grievance to God's greatness. | Some see it as silencing Job's demand for justice (Barnes: 'Judge of God by a larger standard'); others as inviting him into a communal practice of praise that transforms perspective (Matthew Henry, Keil & Delitzsch). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Elihu speaks in Job 32, 37 as the fourth and youngest interlocutor, introducing himself after the three friends have fallen silent. He insists that God is both just and instructive through suffering, a corrective to both Job's laments and the friends' rigid retribution logic. Chapter 36 forms part of Elihu's final discourse, blending theological argument with a lyrical description of God's power in weather (vv. 26, 33; chapter 37).
Verse 24 stands as a hinge: after arguing that God cannot be charged with injustice (vv. 22, 23), Elihu issues a command. 'Remember' (zəkhor) echoes the covenantal and wisdom tradition of calling the heart back to fundamental truth (Deuteronomy 4:19). 'Magnify' (saga, Hiphil) means to enlarge with words, to declare aloud that God's deeds are great. The phrase 'which men have sung' contains a lexical ambiguity: the Hebrew šoreru could derive from šur ('to behold') or šir ('to sing'). Most ancient versions (Vulgate 'cecinerunt', Targum 'righteous men praise') and modern commentators (Clarke, Keil & Delitzsch, JFB) prefer 'sing,' linking it to the Psalmic tradition of praise (Psalm 104:33, 34). Barnes argues the sense 'behold' better fits the surrounding call to 'see' (v. 25), but the majority read favors sung praise.
In the ancient Near East, to 'magnify' a deity's work was a public, liturgical act, a community joining its voice to the visible testimony of creation (cf. Job 26:14; Psalm 19:1, 4). This context sharpens Elihu's appeal: Job is not merely to think differently, but to vocalize praise, aligning himself with the tradition of praise that has always accompanied the contemplation of God's wonders. The surrounding verses then unpack that work through rain, clouds and lightning (vv. 27, 33), showing that God's governance spans both judgment and provision.
Textual Notes
The chief textual issue involves the verb šoreru (שֹׁרְר֣וּ). The Masoretic vocalization could derive from either šur ('to go around, behold') or šir ('to sing'). The ancient versions split: the Septuagint reads 'of which men rule' (δυνάστης, likely a different root), the Vulgate has cecinerunt viri ('men have sung'), and the Targum paraphrases 'righteous men praise.' Jerome's Vulgate reading influenced Coverdale and the KJV tradition. The majority of modern lexical scholarship (BDB, HALOT) lists the form under šir (to sing), supported by Elihu's allusions to Psalms. No significant manuscript variants are cited in the consulted sources.
Reception History
This verse has been valued across traditions as a concise summons to praise God's works. In the pre-critical exegesis of Matthew Henry and Wesley, it served to humble the sufferer and exalt divine sovereignty. The Vulgate's phrasing (de quo cecinerunt viri) made it a natural text for liturgical settings focused on God's majesty in nature. In the Reformed tradition, Calvin cites the Elihu speeches to argue that God's incomprehensibility should lead not to despair but to worship. Modern devotional use often pairs the verse with Psalm 19 or Job 26:14 to illustrate how creation and song together proclaim God's glory. The lexical ambiguity between 'sing' and 'behold' has allowed preachers to emphasize either the human duty of praise or the universal visibility of God's handiwork.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remember. The Hebrew imperative zəkhor calls for active recall, not passive awareness. Elihu commands Job to bring to mind a truth he already knows but has lost sight of.
- Magnify. Hiphil of saga means to make great with words. Praise is not optional; it is the fitting response to God's work, especially when that work includes personal affliction (Gill).
- Join the song. 'Which men have sung' places Job within a chorus that spans generations. He is invited to add his voice to the testimony of creation and the faithful before him.
Five-point outline
- The context of complaint: Job has questioned God's justice. Elihu's word 'remember' counters forgetfulness born of pain.
- The object: God's work (poὋal), his deeds of creation, providence and even discipline are all included.
- The action: magnifying (not explaining or justifying) the work. Praise precedes understanding.
- The community: 'men have sung', praise is a shared, historic practice, not an isolated duty.
- The result: as Matthew Henry notes, contemplating God's visible works leads to 'high thoughts' that humble and comfort.
Illustration hooks
- Shifting focus in a storm: A person watching a thunderstorm from a window may first feel fear or frustration. The moment they notice the power and design of the storm, fear shifts to awe. Elihu asks Job to make that shift intentional.
- A choir's cumulative voice: When one singer joins a choir, the sound swells. 'Men have sung' reminds us that our praise adds to a song begun long before we arrived.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I genuinely magnify God when I do not understand why he allows my suffering?
- Does commanding someone to 'remember and magnify' dismiss the reality of their pain?
- What does it look like to praise God's work without pretending everything is fine?
Leading a Discussion
Elihu's word to Job comes in the middle of a long, painful conversation. Job has demanded answers; Elihu offers not an explanation but an invitation to shift his gaze. The group's opening discussion should acknowledge that this verse does not solve Job's problem logically, but it does reframe it.
Discussion questions
- What does the word 'remember' (Hebrew zəkhor) imply about Job's current state of mind? Why might he have forgotten to magnify God's work?
- Read the verse aloud in two translations (e.g., WEB and KJV). The Hebrew verb šoreru can mean 'men have sung' or 'men behold.' How does the choice of meaning affect the verse's tone?
- What kinds of 'work' (Hebrew poὋal) do you think Elihu has in mind, creation only, or also suffering? See Gill's note on affliction.
- How does the command to 'magnify' (Hiphil, 'make great') move beyond mere silent acceptance? What does it require of Job, and of us?
- The surrounding verses (36:26, 37:5) describe rain, clouds and thunder. Why does Elihu turn to the natural world as evidence for God's greatness? How does this connect to Psalm 19:1, 4?
- In your own experience, when has recalling God's work in creation (or in your past) helped you when you were confused about his justice? When has it not helped?
- The verse says 'men have sung', a community of praise. How can your small group or church help one another remember to magnify God during hard seasons?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 4:19 | and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky. |
| Job 12:13 | “With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. |
| Job 12:25 | They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man. |
| Job 26:5 | “The departed spirits tremble, those beneath the waters and all that live in them. |
| Job 26:14 | Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” |
| Psalms 19:1 | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. |
| Psalms 19:4 | Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, |
| Psalms 28:5 | Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that instead of complaining about God’s ways people should look closely at creation. It shows God’s wisdom power and goodness which lead people to praise him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that to rightly understand God's work, we must remember He is great and acts on a vast, universal scale. We should not judge Him by narrow human standards or place ourselves at the center of creation, but recognize that His plans serve the welfare of the whole universe.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that Elihu warns Job not to let his riches cause him to scorn God. It says that if Job is filled with pride because of his wealth he will face judgment.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Remember that thou magnifie his worke, which men behold.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that magnifying God's work includes patient submission under hardship, since affliction is God's own doing. When believers quietly endure and humble themselves, they glorify him. He notes these works are visible, so onlookers clearly see God's hand at work in such trials.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson Fausset Brown notes that the Hebrew word for see here means show rather than sing praise. This shows that understanding God’s creation is enough to prove its wisdom and goodness.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insists that the word in verse 22 means "teacher," not "lord," because Elihu consistently portrays God as teaching through dreams, affliction, and creation. God is an incomparable teacher whose sovereign way no one prescribes or dares to call evil. Job must therefore extol God's works, which all people behold with wonder from afar.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this verse as the turning point where Elihu stops discussing human affairs and starts describing God's works in nature. He suggests the poet imagined the thunderstorm from which God will soon speak as already beginning during this speech, with Elihu drawing his vivid descriptions of lightning and rain directly from the storm gathering around them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God’s visible works in nature are so clear and impressive that anyone can see them from afar. He believes this shows God is great though we do not fully understand him.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley calls believers to a threefold response: remember their duty, magnify every work of God without condemning any, and behold His acts with admiring astonishment. He insists that all providential works are done with admirable wisdom and justice, deserving adoration.