Job 23:3-13

3 Oh, ¹that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his ²seat!

4 I would ³lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he ⁴contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.

7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 "Behold, ⁵I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.

10 But he ⁶knows ⁷the way that I ⁸take; when he has ⁹tried me, I shall come out as gold.

11 My foot ¹⁰has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have ¹¹not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have ¹²treasured the words of his mouth more than my ¹³portion of food.

13 But he is unchangeable,^[a] and ¹⁴who can turn him back? What he ¹⁵desires, that he does.

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Job 23:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 23

This and the following chapter contain Job's reply to the last oration of Eliphaz; in this he first declares his present sorrowful estate and condition, Job 23:1,2; wishes he knew where to find God, as a judge sitting on a throne, before whom he might lay his cause, and plead it, and have his judgment and final decision passed upon it; when he doubted not but he would deal favourably with him, and both admit him and strengthen him, to plead his own cause, and would acquit him for ever from the charges laid against him, Job 23:3-7; in order to which he sought for him everywhere, but could not find him, but contents himself with this, that God knew his way; and that, after trial of him, he should shine like pure gold, and appear to be no apostate from him, but one sincerely obedient to his commands, and a true lover of his word, Job 23:8-12; and as for his afflictions, they were the result of the unalterable purposes and appointments of God: but what gave him the greatest uneasiness was, that there were more of that sort yet to come, which filled him with fears and faintings, with trouble and darkness, Job 23:13-17.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 15

1. [Job 13:3; Job 16:21]
2. [Psalms 9:7, 8; Isaiah 57:15, 16]
3. See Job 33:5
4. [Job 9:34; Job 13:21]
5. Job 9:11; Job 35:14
6. Psalms 139:1-3
7. Psalms 139:24
8. [Job 9:35]
9. Psalms 17:3; Psalms 26:2; Psalms 66:10; Psalms 139:23; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:18; [James 1:12]
10. Psalms 17:5; Psalms 44:18
11. Psalms 125:5
12. [Psalms 119:11]
13. [Psalms 119:103; John 4:32, 34]
14. [Job 9:12; Job 12:14]
15. Psalms 115:3

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or one

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.