Job 9:1-11

1 Yes, I've heard all that before. ¹

2 But how can a human being win a case against God?

3 How can anyone argue with him? He can ask a thousand questions that no one could ever answer.

4 God is so wise and powerful; no one can stand up against him.

5 Without warning he moves mountains and in anger he destroys them.

6 God sends earthquakes and shakes the ground; he rocks the pillars that support the earth.

7 He can keep the sun from rising, ² and the stars from shining at night.

8 No one helped God spread out the heavens or trample the sea monster's back.

9 God hung the stars in the sky - the Dipper, ³ Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south.

10 We cannot understand the great things he does, and to his miracles there is no end.

11 God passes by, but I cannot see him.

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.

Cross References

• 1. 9.2Job 4.17.
• 2. +29.7, 8Baruch 3.34, 35.
• 3. 9.9Job 38.31;Amos 5.8.

Footnotes

• [a] He can ask . . . answer; [or] Someone could ask him a thousand questions, and he would not answer.
• [b] trample the sea monster's back: [A reference to ancient stories in which a sea monster was killed and then trampled (see also 26.13).]