Job is now deeply struck by the first words that God had spoken to him, words in which Job’s sin was clearly pointed out. He quotes these words almost exactly (see Job 38:2).
Job had spoken of and complained about many things: his birth, the wicked who live long and prosperous lives, the righteous who suffer, his own suffering, and God’s very governance of the world. Now he realizes that he has spoken without knowledge. These things are too complex for humans to understand. If even the animal kingdom is too complex for man to understand, how could Job expect to understand God’s dealings with mankind?
Notice that Job does not recant his claims of innocence. God has also not rebuked him for these claims. Job had indeed suffered innocently. His sin lay in the words with which he defended his innocence.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.