Job 23:5-15

5 "I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.

6 "Would He contend with me by ¹the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me.

7 "There the upright would ²reason with Him; And I would be ³delivered forever from my Judge.

8 "Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I ⁴cannot perceive Him;

9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.

10 "But He knows the way I take; When He has ⁵tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 "My foot has ⁶held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.

12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the ⁷words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13 "But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

14 "For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such decrees are with Him

15 "Therefore *, I would be dismayed at His presence; When I consider, I am terrified of Him.

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Job 23:5-15 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 7

1. Job 9:4
2. Job 13:3
3. Job 13:16; Job 23:10
4. Job 9:11; Job 35:14
5. Job 7:18; Psalms 7:9; Psalms 11:5; Psalms 66:10; Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 1:7
6. Job 31:7; Psalms 17:5; Psalms 44:18
7. Job 6:10; Job 22:22

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "answer me"
[b]. Or "bring forth my justice forever"
[c]. Lit "way with me"
[d]. Or with some versions, "in my breast"
[e]. Lit "prescribed portion"