Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we often focus on God's power to do great things, this verse highlights His supreme ability to teach through His might. His "teaching" isn't just words; it's the profound, often overwhelming, way His actions and the very fabric of creation instruct us about His nature and His rule.
Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is transitioning from rebuking Job to extolling God's majesty and wisdom, especially as revealed through His mighty works, possibly amidst a gathering storm. He's arguing that instead of questioning God's justice, Job should recognize God's supreme power and unparalleled teaching ability. Elihu emphasizes that God's providential governance is the ultimate lesson, and Job, rather than trying to teach God, should learn from Him.
We often think of power as forceful and destructive, but what if God’s power is most profoundly revealed in His teaching?
Elihu is building a case: Job has been challenging God, implying God isn't just, or that Job knows better. Elihu points to God's sheer power, not just to intimidate, but to highlight that this immense power is the very source of God's ability to teach us.
A Power That Elevates
The phrase 'God exalteth by his power' suggests that God's might is not merely for destruction or judgment, but also for elevation and demonstration of His supreme status. He operates on a level far above us, showcasing His greatness through His mighty acts and His profound wisdom. His power isn't just raw force; it’s a divine attribute that underpins His sovereign authority and His capacity to instruct.
The Ultimate Educator
When Elihu asks, 'who is a teacher like him?', he's not asking a rhetorical question to be answered with 'no one'. He's making a bold declaration. There is no one, absolutely no one, who can teach with the authority, wisdom, and perfect understanding that God possesses. His lessons come from the absolute heights of His power and perspective, making His instruction unique and unmatched.
Could the very circumstances of your life, even the painful ones, be God’s way of teaching you profound truths?
Elihu's argument, and indeed much of the book of Job, suggests that God uses the events of our lives – our 'providence' – as His primary teaching tools.
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Lessons Through Experience
Elihu's discourse is framed by the idea that God's government of the world is a continuous, grand lesson for humanity. God doesn't just teach through spoken words or written texts; He teaches through the outworking of His sovereign will in the created order and in human history. The storms, the deliverances, the afflictions – these are all part of His curriculum.
Responding to Divine Instruction
The key is how we respond. Elihu implies that Job, by questioning God, is missing the lesson. When we accept God's sovereignty and His power, we open ourselves to learn. If we resist or argue, we close the classroom door, prolonging our own struggle and hindering the very understanding God seeks to impart.
Understand the original words
sagab · Hebrew Verb
The state or quality of being lifted high or supreme, referring to God's sovereignty, majesty, and unapproachable authority over all creation.
koach · Hebrew Noun
God's inherent, effective strength and ability to govern, sustain, and act within the universe, demonstrating His sovereign control over all things.
moreh · Hebrew Noun
One who instructs, directs, or provides wisdom; specifically applied to God as the ultimate source of all truth, guidance, and divine understanding.
The verse lands within the intense dialogue of the book of Job, specifically during Elihu's passionate speech. Elihu is speaking *after* Job and his friends have debated for chapters, and *before* God Himself speaks from the whirlwind. This unique position highlights Elihu's role in preparing Job to hear God's perspective, framing God's absolute power and unparalleled teaching ability as the ultimate context for understanding suffering.
c. 2000-1800 BC
The Patriarchal Age
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob live during a time when nomadic cultures and early city-states characterize the Near East. The book of Job likely reflects the wisdom traditions and social setting of this era, even if written later.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings
Moses leads the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery and through the desert. This foundational period shapes Israel's understanding of God's power, justice, and covenant faithfulness.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy under David
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital and consolidates Israel's power. This era sees a flourishing of wisdom literature and poetry in Israel, including the development of traditions reflected in Job.
c. 970-931 BC
Reign of Solomon and Temple Construction
Solomon's reign is marked by immense wisdom, wealth, and the building of the First Temple. This period is considered a golden age for wisdom literature, with traditions that likely influenced the setting and themes of Job.
c. 750-650 BC
Prophetic Ministry and Assyrian Threat
Major prophets like Isaiah and Amos deliver God's message amidst political turmoil and the looming threat of the Assyrian Empire. This era sees intense theological reflection on God's justice and sovereignty in the face of national crises.
c. 5th century BC
Post-Exilic Period and Wisdom Tradition
Following the Babylonian exile, Jewish communities rebuild their lives and religious institutions. The wisdom tradition continues to be shaped, with texts like Job being preserved and studied, addressing profound questions of suffering and divine justice.
Elihu's Discourse— this verse
Elihu Speaks to Job
Elihu, a younger man, intervenes in the debate between Job and his friends. He emphasizes God's incomprehensible power and wisdom, arguing that God's actions are always just, even when beyond human understanding, directly preceding God's own appearance.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment, asking 'Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who has instructed him?' highlighting God's supreme, unchallengeable wisdom and teaching authority that Job 36:22 asserts.
Psalm 94:10This verse poses a similar rhetorical question, 'Shall the one who chastens the nations not discipline? He who teaches man knowledge—shall He not rebuke?' reinforcing the idea that God's correction and teaching are part of His sovereign rule.
Romans 11:34Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13, emphasizing that God's ways and thoughts are beyond human comprehension, which supports Elihu's assertion in Job 36:22 that no one can truly teach God or comprehend His teaching like He Himself does.
John 6:45Jesus states, 'It is written in the Prophets, “And they will all be taught by God.”' This points to a divine teaching that is foundational and supremely authoritative, aligning with the unparalleled teaching role of God mentioned in Job.
Job 38:2Immediately following Elihu's speech, God speaks to Job, asking, 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?' This divine challenge directly relates to the theme in Job 36:22 of God’s supreme teaching authority, implying that Job himself was not equipped to instruct God.
cambridgeJob 36:22: "Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?"
22 . exalteth by his power ] Rather, God doeth loftily in his power . who teacheth ] Or, who is a teacher . 22–25 . Instead of murmuring Job should bow under the mighty hand of God, who through the operations of His providence is a great teacher of men ( Job 36:22 ); who is supreme ( Job 36:23 ); and whose work all men celebrate ( Job 36:24 ), looking to it with admiration and awe ( Job 36:25 ).
ellicottJob 36:22: "Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?"
(22) Behold, God exalteth by his power. —The rest of Elihu’s speech is splendidly eloquent. He dilates on the power and majesty of God, and appears to be speaking in contemplation of some magnificent natural phenomenon—as the tempest, or hurricane, or whirlwind—out of which the Lord ultimately spake ( Job 38:1 ). It is probable that this storm was beginning to gather, and that it suggested the glorious imagery of Elihu’s spe…
While we often focus on God's power to do great things, this verse highlights His supreme ability to teach through His might. His "teaching" isn't just words; it's the profound, often overwhelming, way His actions and the very fabric of creation instruct us about His nature and His rule.
Elihu is transitioning from rebuking Job to extolling God's majesty and wisdom, especially as revealed through His mighty works, possibly amidst a gathering storm. He's arguing that instead of questioning God's justice, Job should recognize God's supreme power and unparalleled teaching ability. Elihu emphasizes that God's providential governance is the ultimate lesson, and Job, rather than trying to teach God, should learn from Him.
Elihu is transitioning from rebuking Job to extolling God's majesty and wisdom, especially as revealed through His mighty works, possibly amidst a gathering storm. He's arguing that instead of questioning God's justice, Job should recognize God's supreme power and unparalleled teaching ability. Elihu emphasizes that God's providential governance is the ultimate lesson, and Job, rather than trying to teach God, should learn from Him.
"Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?" — While we often focus on God's power to do great things, this verse highlights His supreme ability to teach through His might. His "teaching" isn't just words; it's the profound, often overwhelmin…
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Last reviewed October 2026