John Gill Commentary Job 34:16

"If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words." — Job 34:16 (ASV)

If now [you have] understanding, hear this
Not as calling his understanding in question, as if he had none; for Job was a very understanding man; he had not lost his natural understanding by his afflictions, see (Job 6:13) ; nor was he without an understanding of divine things, as his speeches and answers show; but rather it is taken for granted that he was a man of understanding: "if" or "seeing" you have understanding, are a man of knowledge and intelligence, therefore hearken and attend to what has been said or about to be said; though, as some Jewish interpreters ^F1 observe, the word is not a noun, but a verb, and is imperative, "understand you now, hear this"; and then the sense is, "if" things are so as before related, (Job 34:13–15) ; then now understand this, take it into your heart and mind, and well weigh and consider it:

hearken to the voice of my words ;
either the preceding or following ones.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F1: Jarchi, Bar Tzemach, in loc. so Cocceius, Schmidt, and Schultens.