“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are! But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Eliphaz isn't just pointing out the vastness of the cosmos; he's using the immense distance of the stars to accuse Job of believing God is too far removed to care about earthly justice. He argues that if Job truly grasped God's supreme height, he wouldn't question His awareness or involvement in human affairs.
“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are! But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking God is too distant to observe human affairs. He argues that God resides in the highest heavens, far above even the lofty stars, making it impossible for Him to see or care about what happens on earth. This misrepresentation, according to Eliphaz, is the underlying attitude behind Job's questioning of God's justice.
Eliphaz points to the heavens and the stars, asking Job if he truly grasps God's immense position. What does this astronomical imagery reveal about our understanding of the Divine?
Eliphaz uses the vastness of the cosmos to underscore God's supreme authority and distance from earthly affairs. He asks, 'Is not God high in the heavens?' and immediately directs Job to 'behold the height of the stars, how lofty they are!'
A Universe of Distance
The imagery here is powerful. Think about the stars – even in Job's time, their immense distance and loftiness were awe-inspiring. Eliphaz uses this as a stepping stone, suggesting that if the stars are that high, then God is infinitely higher.
The Implication
His point isn't just poetic; it's argumentative. He's implying that Job's complaints suggest a misunderstanding of this divine distance. Eliphaz believes Job thinks God is so far away and detached that He can't possibly see or care about the struggles of individuals on Earth. But Eliphaz's own argument suggests the opposite: God's supreme height means He has the ultimate vantage point to observe everything.
Eliphaz accuses Job of holding impious thoughts about God's awareness. But did Job really say God was too distant to see?
A critical element here is Eliphaz's interpretation—or misinterpretation—of Job's words. The commentators point out that Eliphaz attributes certain sentiments to Job that Job never actually expressed.
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The Accusation
Eliphaz seems to be arguing as if Job believes God is so high up that He's effectively blind to human affairs. He frames Job's lamentations about suffering as evidence that Job thinks God is either unaware or uncaring because He is so remote.
The Real Issue
However, Job's struggle wasn't about denying God's ability to see; it was about the apparent lack of divine justice in the face of suffering. Job questioned why righteous people suffered while the wicked often prospered. He wasn't saying God couldn't see, but rather that God's actions (or inactions, from Job's perspective) didn't align with what Job understood of justice, given God's supreme position.
This highlights a common pitfall in arguments: accusing your opponent of holding beliefs they haven't actually stated, making it easier to attack a straw man instead of engaging with the real issue.
Understand the original words
Eloah · Hebrew Noun
The supreme Creator and Sovereign of the universe, who is transcendent, omnipotent, and worthy of all worship; the term implies His covenant relationship with His people and His rule over all creation.
marom · Hebrew Noun
A description of God's transcendence and supreme authority, emphasizing His dwelling place as being beyond human limitation and His absolute rule from above the created order.
din · Hebrew Verb
A term denoting moral evaluation and legal ruling, signifying God’s sovereign authority to declare what is right and wrong and to administer justice according to His perfect character.
This Psalm directly echoes the sentiment that God's glory is above the heavens, and His throne is even higher than the highest stars, emphasizing His supreme majesty and transcendence over all creation.
Isaiah 55:8-9This passage speaks to the vast difference between God's ways and thoughts and ours, much like the immense distance between earth and the highest stars highlights God's unfathomable perspective and knowledge.
Job 38:4-7Here, God Himself questions Job, asking where he was when the foundations of the earth were laid and when the morning stars sang together, powerfully illustrating His sovereign control over the cosmos and its celestial bodies.
Romans 11:33This verse expresses awe at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, reflecting on how His judgments and ways are unsearchable, mirroring the incomprehensible height and vastness of the heavens and stars mentioned in Job.
bensonJob 22:12: "Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!"
Job 22:12 . Is not God in the height of heaven? — Surely, he is; and from that high tower he looketh down upon men, to behold, and govern, and recompense all their actions, whether good or bad. And, therefore, O Job, thou art grossly mistaken, in thinking that good men suffer as deeply as any others in this lower world, while the vilest of men flourish and are exalted; which would imply that…
clarkeJob 22:12: "Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!"
Is not God in the height of heaven? - It appears, from this and the following verses, that Eliphaz was attributing infidel and blasphemous speeches or sentiments to Job. As if he had said: "Thou allowest that there is a God, but thou sayest that he is infinitely exalted above the heavens and the stars, and that there is so much dense ether and thick cloud between his throne and the earth, tha…
Eliphaz isn't just pointing out the vastness of the cosmos; he's using the immense distance of the stars to accuse Job of believing God is too far removed to care about earthly justice. He argues that if Job truly grasped God's supreme height, he wouldn't question His awareness or involvement in human affairs.
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking God is too distant to observe human affairs. He argues that God resides in the highest heavens, far above even the lofty stars, making it impossible for Him to see or care about what happens on earth. This misrepresentation, according to Eliphaz, is the underlying attitude behind Job's questioning of God's justice.
Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking God is too distant to observe human affairs. He argues that God resides in the highest heavens, far above even the lofty stars, making it impossible for Him to see or care about what happens on earth. This misrepresentation, according to Eliphaz, is the underlying attitude behind Job's questioning of God's justice.
"“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are! But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?" — Eliphaz isn't just pointing out the vastness of the cosmos; he's using the immense distance of the stars to accuse Job of believing God is too far removed to care about earthly justice. He argues tha…
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Last reviewed October 2026