Job 9:7-17

7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear[a] and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14 “How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17 He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.

Job 9:7-17 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 23

  • 1. Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 4:28; Joel 2:2,10,31; Joel 3:15; Zephaniah 1:15; Zechariah 14:6
  • 2. Isaiah 13:10; Jeremiah 4:23; Ezekiel 32:8
  • 3. S Genesis 1:1,8; S Isaiah 48:13; Genesis 1:6; Psalms 104:2-3
  • 4. Job 38:16; Psalms 77:19; Proverbs 8:28; Habakkuk 3:15; Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48; John 6:19
  • 5. Job 32:22; Job 40:15,19
  • 6. S Genesis 1:16; Job 38:31; Amos 5:8
  • 7. Deuteronomy 6:22; Psalms 72:18; Psalms 136:4; Jeremiah 32:20; Psalms 71:15
  • 8. S Job 5:9
  • 9. Job 23:8-9; Job 35:14
  • 10. Numbers 23:20; Job 11:10; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 43:13
  • 11. S ver 3; S Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9; Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:32; Romans 9:20
  • 12. Numbers 14:18; Job 10:15; Psalms 78:38; Isaiah 3:11; Isaiah 6:5; Isaiah 48:9
  • 13. Job 26:12; Psalms 87:4; Psalms 89:10; Isaiah 30:7; Isaiah 51:9
  • 14. S ver 3
  • 15. Job 10:15; Job 13:19; Job 34:5-6; Job 40:5; Job 42:7
  • 16. Job 8:5
  • 17. S Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel 24:12; Psalms 50:6; Psalms 96:13
  • 18. ver 20,29; Job 15:6; Job 23:4; Job 40:2
  • 19. Job 13:22; Romans 9:20-21
  • 20. Job 16:12; Job 30:16; Psalms 10:10; Isaiah 38:13
  • 21. Job 30:22; Psalms 83:15; John 1:4
  • 22. Job 16:14
  • 23. S Job 2:3

Footnotes 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.