Job 9:1-10

Job's Reply to Bildad

1 Then Job answered:
2 Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?[a]
3 If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God[b] once in a thousand [times].[c]
4 God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed?
5 He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in His anger.[d]
6 He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble.
7 He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars.[e]
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.[f][g]
9 He makes [the stars]: the Bear,[h] Orion, the Pleiades,[i] and the constellations[j] of the southern sky.
10 He performs great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.[k]

Job 9:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 9

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to Bildad, and in this he asserts the strict justice at God; which is such, that no man can be just in his sight, not being able to answer to one charge, or for one sin, of a thousand he is guilty of, Job 9:1-3; and that such are his wisdom and power, that the most daring man cannot expect to succeed in an opposition to him, Job 9:4; instances are given of his power in the works of nature and providence, Job 9:5-10; notice is taken of the imperceptibleness of his actions and motions, and of his sovereignty in all his ways, Job 9:11,12; and of his fierce wrath and anger, which is such as obliges the proudest of men to stoop under him; and therefore Job chose not to contend in a judicial way with him, but in a suppliant manner would entreat him, since his hand was so heavy upon him, Job 9:13-21; he affirms, in direct opposition to Bildad and his friends, and insists upon it, that God afflicts both the righteous and the wicked; yea, gives the earth to the latter when he slays the former, Job 9:22-24; he then observes the shortness of his days, and complains of his heavy afflictions, Job 9:25-28; and concludes, that it was in vain for him to expect his cause to be heard before God, there being no daysman between them; and wishes that the dread of the Divine Majesty might be taken from him, and then he would freely and without fear speak unto him, Job 9:29-35.

Footnotes 11

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