“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job isn't just acknowledging God's power; he's recognizing that God’s "thoughts," or purposes, are not only knowable to God, but that God's will cannot be hindered by anyone or anything. This means even when God’s plans seem confusing or even wrong to us, they are ultimately unstoppable and beyond our ability to obstruct.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God speaks directly to Job from the whirlwind, revealing His immense power and wisdom through creation, Job is humbled. This verse is Job's direct response, a profound confession that acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and the inability of any plan of God's to be thwarted, a stark contrast to his earlier questioning and despair. His following words will express deep self-reproach, recognizing his own ignorance in the face of God's boundless understanding.
Job’s journey through suffering led him to a stunning realization about God’s control. It’s not just about power, but about an unwavering, unstoppable plan.
Job begins his response to God with a powerful affirmation: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." This isn't just a statement of God's raw power; it's an acknowledgment that God's plans are as unshakeable as His might.
Beyond Human Comprehension
Think about it: God’s purposes are so vast and intricate that Job, even after God’s mighty speeches, admits he can’t fully grasp them. Yet, he trusts that these purposes, though sometimes appearing hidden or even harsh from a limited human perspective, are indeed being carried out. The original language hints that "purpose" can also mean "thought" or "counsel." This means every divine thought, every strategic plan, is not only known by God but is executable.
The Circle of Attributes
This confession reflects a deeper understanding. While Job had focused on specific instances of perceived injustice, God revealed Himself in the fullness of His being – His power, His wisdom, His intricate care for creation. This holistic view shows that God’s omnipotence isn't separate from His goodness or righteousness; they are all interconnected. God's power must be wielded with perfect wisdom and righteousness.
Job’s initial wrestling with God stemmed from a misunderstanding of divine power and justice. His final words reveal a profound shift towards humble submission.
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Job’s journey is a powerful illustration of how encountering God transforms our perspective. Before God spoke from the whirlwind, Job was deeply entrenched in defending his own righteousness and questioning God's fairness. He felt that God's actions didn't align with his understanding of justice.
The Conviction of God's Majesty
God’s response wasn’t a direct answer to Job’s accusations but a majestic unveiling of His own nature and power, particularly in creation. This display deeply convicted Job. He moves from arguing his case to confessing his own ignorance and sinfulness. The commentaries note that Job’s earlier dispute was not just about God's power, but also about God's right to act as He does. Job’s confession, 'I know that you can do all things,' signifies his recognition of God's absolute authority and sovereign right to govern.
The Heart of Repentance
This confession leads to a deep sense of humility and self-abhorrence, as seen in the following verses (Job 42:6). It’s not just an intellectual assent to God's power, but a heart-level submission. Job realizes his 'folly in speaking so irreverently concerning Him.' True understanding of God’s unlimited power and purpose leads to a reverent awe and a willingness to be silent where we cannot comprehend.
Understand the original words
mezimmah · Hebrew Noun
The divine intent, plan, or decree of God. In Scripture, it signifies His sovereign will that governs the course of history and creation.
batsar · Hebrew Verb
To hold back, restrain, or prevent an action from being completed. When applied to God, it highlights the unstoppable nature of His divine will.
This passage echoes Job's realization, stating that God's ways and thoughts are far beyond human understanding, just as the heavens are higher than the earth. It emphasizes that God's purposes, though mysterious, are always supreme.
Romans 11:33-34Paul exclaims about the unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God, directly paralleling Job's awe-struck confession. It highlights that God's decisions and plans are beyond human scrutiny and comprehension.
Proverbs 19:21This verse directly states that while a person may make many plans, it is the Lord's purpose that will stand firm. This powerfully reinforces Job's confession of God's sovereign ability to achieve all His intentions.
Jeremiah 32:17Here, Jeremiah directly acknowledges God's immense power and ability to do anything, declaring 'Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.' This mirrors Job's ultimate conclusion about God's omnipotence.
cambridgeJob 42:2: "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
2 . do every thing ] Or, canst do all . no thought can be withholden ] That is, no purpose . The meaning is that there is no purpose which the Almighty cannot carry out. Though literally the words seem merely an acknowledgement of power, they are also an admission of wisdom, the plans or purposes of which may be beyond the understanding of man ( Job 42:3 ). Job does not, as might have been expect…
wesleyJob 42:2: "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
42:2 Thou canst, and c. - Job here subscribes to God's unlimited power, knowledge and dominion, to prove which was the scope of God's discourse out of the whirlwind. And his judgment being convinced of these, his conscience also was convinced, of his own folly in speaking so irreverently concerning him. No thought can be withholden from thee - No thought of ours can be withholden from thy knowled…
Job isn't just acknowledging God's power; he's recognizing that God’s "thoughts," or purposes, are not only knowable to God, but that God's will cannot be hindered by anyone or anything. This means even when God’s plans seem confusing or even wrong to us, they are ultimately unstoppable and beyond our ability to obstruct.
After God speaks directly to Job from the whirlwind, revealing His immense power and wisdom through creation, Job is humbled. This verse is Job's direct response, a profound confession that acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and the inability of any plan of God's to be thwarted, a stark contrast to his earlier questioning and despair. His following words will express deep self-reproach, recognizing his own ignorance in the face of God's boundless understanding.
After God speaks directly to Job from the whirlwind, revealing His immense power and wisdom through creation, Job is humbled. This verse is Job's direct response, a profound confession that acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and the inability of any plan of God's to be thwarted, a stark contrast to his earlier questioning and despair. His following words will express deep self-reproach, recognizing his own ignorance in the face of God's boundless understanding.
"“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." — Job isn't just acknowledging God's power; he's recognizing that God’s "thoughts," or purposes, are not only knowable to God, but that God's will cannot be hindered by anyone or anything. This mea…
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Last reviewed October 2026