איוב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק ט׳

Job faces a sharp rebuke from his friends, who challenge his claim to possess superior and exclusive wisdom. Because Job is a mortal human being and was not created directly by God like the very first man, his wisdom stems from the exact same limited human source as theirs [תקות אנוש]. The friends argue that since they themselves have not been granted access to God's hidden secrets, Job certainly does not share in those divine mysteries either [אלשיך].

The friends question the nature of Job's intellect, presenting a dual challenge. This structure can be viewed simply as a poetic repetition meant to emphasize their point [תקות אנוש]. Alternatively, it highlights a precise distinction between two different types of human comprehension [מלבי״ם]. The first type is direct knowledge, which is gathered through the physical senses and immediate awareness. The second type is abstract understanding, which is the mental ability to deduce new ideas through logical reasoning, even in matters that cannot be physically observed.

Whether dealing with direct sensory knowledge or abstract logical reasoning, the friends deliver a clear and pointed message. Any wisdom Job boasts about is not unique to him. His insights are completely familiar to them and are already firmly rooted in their own minds [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].