Job 9:1-13

1 Then Job answered:

2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God?

3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? --

5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger;

6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;

7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;

8 who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea;

9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei'ades and the chambers of the south;

10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.

11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, 'What doest thou'?

13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.

Job 9:1-13 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.