11:1ff Zophar is the third of Job’s friends to speak, and the least courteous. Full of anger, he lashed out at Job, saying that Job deserved more punishment, not less. Zophar took the same position as Eliphaz (chapters 4–5) and Bildad (chapter 8)—that Job was suffering because of sin—but his speech was by far the most arrogant. Zophar was the kind of person who has an answer for everything; he was totally insensitive to Job’s unique situation. (For more on Zophar, see his profile, chapter 8, p. 1055 and the chart in chapter 28, p. 1083.)
11:11 Zophar incorrectly assumed that Job was hiding secret faults and sins. Although Zophar’s assumption was wrong, he explained quite accurately that God knows and sees everything. We are often tempted by the thought “No one will ever know!” Perhaps we can hide some sin from others, but we can do nothing without God knowing about it. Because our very thoughts are known to God, of course he will notice our sins. Job understood this as well as Zophar did, but it didn’t apply to his current dilemma.