Job · Chapter 42 · Faith

Job 42:2 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

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Read in chapter context · Job 42

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained."

KJV · King James Version

"I know3045 that thou canst do3201 every thing, and that no thought4209 can be withholden1219 from thee. no thought can be: or, no thought of thine can be hindered"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses thou, canst, every, thing, while the WEB renders these as you, all, things, purpose. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Job 42:2 in Job 42

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Job 42:2 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Job 42. Read the full chapter →

v.1 Then Job answered Yahweh,
v.2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
v.3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
v.4 You said, ‘Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’

Book background

About the Book of Job

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Wisdom literature
Author: Unknown
Date written: Possibly patriarchal era (c. 2000 BC); written down later
Audience: Ancient Israel
Chapters: 42

Job, "blameless and upright," loses his children, wealth, and health in a heavenly contest he never sees. His three friends insist his suffering must be punishment for sin; Job protests his innocence and demands an audience with God. When God finally speaks from the whirlwind, He does not answer the "why" but reveals Himself — and Job is satisfied. The book reframes how Christians read suffering.

Setting: The land of Uz; Job's story sits outside Israel's national history.

Key themes: suffering · God's sovereignty · integrity · mystery · restoration

Read Job from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Job 42:2

Job 42:2 contains 17 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

“I know that you can do all things

IKTYCD
2

and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.

ATNPOY

Frequently asked

FAQ about Job 42:2

What does Job 42:2 say?

Job 42:2 reads: "“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained." — from the Old Testament, Job (Wisdom literature). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Job 42:2 in?

Job 42:2 is in the book of Job, traditionally attributed to Unknown and written around Possibly patriarchal era (c. 2000 BC); written down later. Job is wisdom literature in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Ancient Israel. Best known for "the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD".

What is Job 42:2 about?

Job 42:2 is primarily a Bible verse about Faith. Within Job, Job, "blameless and upright," loses his children, wealth, and health in a heavenly contest he never sees. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Job 42:2 in WEB and KJV?

Job 42:2 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "I know3045 that thou canst do3201 every thing, and that no thought4209 can be withholden1219 from thee. no thought can be: or, no thought of thine can be hindered". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Job 42:2?

Job 42:2 is 17 words in the WEB translation (83 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.

How can I memorise Job 42:2?

To memorise Job 42:2, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Job 42:2 matter in Job?

How can I apply Job 42:2 today?

Many readers use Job 42:2 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Job 42:2 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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