Job 9:16-23

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.
18 He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him[a] ?
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21 “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.

Job 9:16-23 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 15

  • 1. Job 13:22; Romans 9:20-21
  • 2. Job 16:12; Job 30:16; Psalms 10:10; Isaiah 38:13
  • 3. Job 30:22; Psalms 83:15; John 1:4
  • 4. Job 16:14
  • 5. S Job 2:3
  • 6. S Job 7:19; S Job 10:1; Job 27:2
  • 7. S ver 4; S Nehemiah 9:32
  • 8. ver 33; Jeremiah 49:19
  • 9. S ver 15
  • 10. S Genesis 6:9; Job 34:6,7; Job 1:1
  • 11. ver 14; S Job 6:29; Job 10:1; Job 13:13
  • 12. S Numbers 11:15; S Job 7:16
  • 13. S Job 3:19; Job 10:8; Ecclesiastes 9:2,3; Ezekiel 21:3
  • 14. Hebrews 11:36
  • 15. Job 24:1,12; Psalms 64:4; Habakkuk 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. See Septuagint; Hebrew "me."
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