Job 9:1-11

1 And Job answered and said,

2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?

3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.

4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?

5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;

8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;

9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;

10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.

Job 9:1-11 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Or 'hath prospered.'
• [b] Or 'extent.'
• [c] i.e. the starry regions.