Ayub 10:4

Motivations of God

10:4 “Do you have eyes of flesh, ¹ 

or do you see ²  as a human being sees? ³ 

Yeremia 32:19

32:19 You plan great things and you do mighty deeds. ⁴  You see everything people do. ⁵  You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do. ⁶ 

[10:4]  ¹ tn Here “flesh” is the sign of humanity. The expression “eyes of flesh” means essentially “human eyes,” i.e., the outlook and vision of humans.

[10:4]  ² sn The verb translated “see” could also include the figurative category of perceive as well. The answer to Job’s question is found in 1 Sam 16:7: “The Lord sees not as a man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

[10:4]  ³ sn In this verse Job asks whether or not God is liable to making mistakes or errors of judgment. He wonders if God has no more insight than his friends have. Of course, the questions are rhetorical, for he knows otherwise. But his point is that God seems to be making a big mistake here.

[32:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “[you are] great in counsel and mighty in deed.”

[32:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “your eyes are open to the ways of the sons of men.”

[32:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “giving to each according to his way [= behavior/conduct] and according to the fruit of his deeds.”