Job 34:23

23 for it is no more in the power of man, that he come to God into doom. (for it is not in the power of man, to set the time, when he come before God for judgement.)

Job 34:23 Meaning and Commentary

Job 34:23

For he will not lay upon man more [than right]
Neither in a way of duty, his law being holy, just, and good, not any of his commandments grievous, but all his precepts concerning all things right, his yoke easy and his burden light; nor in a way of punishment, always punishing then less than their iniquities deserve; nor in a way of chastisement, suffering nothing to befall his people but what is common to men; and he is faithful to bear them up under it and through it, and to make a way to escape out of it: or the phrase, "than right", being a supplement, may be left out, and the words be connected with what follows,

that he should enter into judgment with God;
and the sense is, either that God does not put it on man to go again into judgment with him; he does not suffer him to have a cause heard over again, to appeal from God or to him to have a second hearing; nor is anything to be got by it, he is in one mind, and none can turn him or reverse or get reversed any sentence of his; and therefore it was a piece of weakness in Job to insist so much as he did to have a hearing of his cause before him, since he could not expect there would be any alteration made in his favour: or, as Mr. Broughton reads it, "it is not for men to purpose to enter into judgment before the Omnipotent"; such a purpose is vain, he can never carry his cause against him; it is a piece of weakness to pretend to litigate a point with him: or the sense is, he puts no more on man than to come to him in judgment, so Schultens; he has appointed a person and time to judge the world in righteousness, and all must appear before his tribunal; and everything, thought, word and action, will then and there be brought into an account, and righteous judgment will pass; and therefore, since he has fixed such a method of proceeding, and requires no other, he can never be charged with injustice.

Job 34:23 In-Context

21 For the eyes of God be on the ways of men, and he beholdeth all the goings of them.
22 No darknesses be, neither no shadow of death is, that they, that work wickedness, be hid there; (There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where they, who work wickedness, can be hid;)
23 for it is no more in the power of man, that he come to God into doom. (for it is not in the power of man, to set the time, when he come before God for judgement.)
24 God shall all-break many men and unnumberable (God shall all-break innumerable powerful men); and shall make other men to stand for them.
25 For he knoweth the works of them; [and] therefore he shall bring in (the) night upon them, and they shall be all-broken.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.