Job 9:1-9

1 And Job answered, and said,
2 Verily I know, that it is so, and that a man comparisoned to God shall not be made just. (Truly I know, that this is so, and that a man shall not be seen as just, when compared to God.)
3 If he will strive with God, he may not answer to God one for a thousand. (And if he will argue with God, he cannot answer to God one question out of a thousand.)
4 (For) He is wise in heart, and strong in might; who hath against-stood him, and had peace? (who hath stood against him, and hath prevailed?)
5 He bare over hills from one place to another, and they knew not (what had happened); which he destroyed in his strong vengeance (yea, he destroyed them in his strong vengeance).
6 Which stirreth the earth from his place, and the pillars thereof shall shake together. (Who stirreth the earth from its place, and its pillars shall altogether shake.)
7 He commandeth to the sun, and it riseth not; and he closeth (up) the stars, as under a signet.
8 He alone stretcheth forth (the) heavens, and he goeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Pleiades, that is, the seven stars, and the inner things of the south.

Job 9:1-9 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.