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.

Cross References

• 1. 9:28 [Ps. 119:120]
• 2. 9:28 ch. 10:14
• 3. 9:29 [ch. 10:2]
• 4. 9:30 Isa. 1:25; Jer. 2:22; See ch. 22:30
• 5. 9:31 ch. 19:19; 30:10
• 6. 9:32 Eccles. 6:10; Rom. 9:20
• 7. 9:33 ver. 19; 1 Sam. 2:25; [ch. 16:21]
• 8. 9:34 [Ps. 39:10]
• 9. 9:34 ch. 21:9; Ps. 89:32; Isa. 10:24
• 10. 9:34 [ch. 13:21; 33:7]

Footnotes

• [a] 9:33 Or 'Would that there were an'