Job9
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Then Job answered,
2“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
22“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job acknowledges God's justice. (1–13). He is not able to contend with God. (14–21). Men not to be judged by outward condition. (22–24). Job complains of troubles. (25–35).
vv1-13
In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with him in judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of all the thoughts, words, and actions of his life; therefore he deserved worse than all his present sufferings. When Job mentions the wisdom and power of God, he forgets his complaints. We are unfit to judge of God's proceedings, because we know not what he does, or what he designs. God acts with power which no creature can resist. Those who think they have strength enough to help others, will not be able to help themselves against it.
vv14-21
Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. 32:1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is afterwards reproved. Still Job knew so much of himself, that he durst not stand a trial. If we say, We have no sin, we not only deceive ourselves, but we affront God; for we sin in saying so, and give the lie to the Scripture. But Job reflected on God's goodness and justice in saying his affliction was without cause.
vv22-24
Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute. His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good, always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are in misery and distress: he said, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much passion in what Job here says, for God doth not afflict willingly. When the spirit is heated with dispute or with discontent, we have need to set a watch before our lips.
Key Words
אִיּוֹב: Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
אׇמְנָם: verily
אֱנוֹשׁ: a man in general (singly or collectively)
צָדַק: to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
חָפֵץ: properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire
רִיב: properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend
Cross References
Job 9One Mediator between God and men; directly answers Job's plea for a 'daysman betwixt us'.
Supported by Matthew Henry
No flesh justified by deeds of the law; echoes Job's 'how should man be just with God?'
Supported by JFB
Names the same constellations (seven stars and Orion) as symbols of God's sovereign creative power.
Supported by JFB
If God should mark iniquities, none could stand; parallels man unable to answer God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
In God's sight shall no man living be justified; echoes Job's opening theological dilemma.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God challenges Job directly with the same constellations (Pleiades and Orion) mentioned here.
Supported by JFB
Job repeats verbatim Eliphaz's description of God's unsearchable and marvelous works.
Supported by JFB
He that hardens his neck is destroyed; echoes Job's warning on hardening oneself against God.
Supported by JFB
Jesus walking on the sea exhibits the divine prerogative of treading upon the waves.
Supported by JFB
Woe to him who strives with his Maker or asks 'What makest thou?' as in verse 12.
Supported by JFB
One event happens to the righteous and the wicked, matching Job's claim that He destroys both.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Job complains that he cries out of wrong but is not heard, with no judgment found.
Supported by JFB
Elihu assures Job that his hand will not be heavy, answering Job's fear of God's rod.
Supported by JFB
A man is not justified by the works of the law, answering Job's existential question.
Supported by JFB
Like disciples doubting Peter was at the door, Job wouldn't believe God actually answered him.
Supported by Matthew Poole