Job 9:28-35

28 I become ¹afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not ²hold me innocent.

29 I shall be ³condemned; why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow and ⁴cleanse my hands with lye,

31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will ⁵abhor me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should ⁶come to trial together.

33 ⁷There is no^[a] arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

34 ⁸Let him take his ⁹rod away from me, and let ¹⁰not dread of him terrify me.

35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.

Job 9:28-35 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.

Job 9:28-35 In-Context

26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.

27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'

28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.

29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.

33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.

35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.

Cross References

• 1. [Psalms 119:120]
• 2. Job 10:14
• 3. [Job 10:2]
• 4. Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 2:22; See Job 22:30
• 5. Job 19:19; Job 30:10
• 6. Ecclesiastes 6:10; Romans 9:20
• 7. ver. 19; 1 Samuel 2:25; [Job 16:21]
• 8. [Psalms 39:10]
• 9. Job 21:9; Psalms 89:32; Isaiah 10:24
• 10. [Job 13:21; Job 33:7]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Would that there were an