Job 9:26-35

26 They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30 Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
32 “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

Job 9:26-35 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.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Job 24:18; Psalms 46:3
  • 2. Isaiah 18:2
  • 3. Job 39:29; Habakkuk 1:8
  • 4. S Job 7:11
  • 5. S Job 3:25; Psalms 119:120
  • 6. S Exodus 34:7; S Job 7:21
  • 7. S ver 3,S 15; Psalms 37:33
  • 8. Malachi 3:2
  • 9. Job 17:9; Job 31:7; Isaiah 1:15
  • 10. Job 14:4,17; Job 33:9; Isaiah 1:18; Jeremiah 2:22; Hosea 13:12
  • 11. Psalms 35:7; Psalms 40:2; Psalms 51:9; Jeremiah 2:22; Nahum 3:6; Malachi 2:3
  • 12. S Job 7:20; Job 34:9; Job 35:3; Psalms 73:13
  • 13. S Numbers 23:19
  • 14. S ver 3; Romans 9:20
  • 15. Psalms 143:2; Ecclesiastes 6:10
  • 16. S 1 Samuel 2:25
  • 17. S ver 19
  • 18. Job 13:21; Job 21:9; Psalms 39:10; Psalms 73:5
  • 19. S Job 6:4; Job 7:14; Job 33:7; Psalms 32:4
  • 20. S Job 7:11
  • 21. Job 7:15; Job 13:21
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