Job — Chapter 9
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1Then Job answered and said,
2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
1Then Job answered and said,
2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
3If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-
5[Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;
6That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;
7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;
8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
10That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.
14How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him?
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
17For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.
19If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me?
20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it?
25Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,
26They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer;
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;
31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.
33There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.
1Then Job answered:
2“Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?
3If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength— who has resisted him and remained safe?
5He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger,
6he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble,
7he who commands the sun, and it does not shine and seals up the stars,
8he alone spreads out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;
10he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.
11If he passes by me, I cannot see him; if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.
14“How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him.
15Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.
16If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice—
17he who crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds for no reason.
18He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’
20Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.
21I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.
22“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’
23If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.
24If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?
25“My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness.
26They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,’
28I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.
29If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow-melt water and make my hands clean with lye,
31then you plunge me into a slimy pit and my own clothes abhor me.
32For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.
33Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both,
34who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.
35Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.
1Then Job answered,
2“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7He commands the sun, and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?
15Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.
21I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
22“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good.
26They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;’
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
Summary
Job's reply to Bildad — acknowledges God's overwhelming power and wisdom but despairs of obtaining a fair hearing, since no mediator exists between himself and the Almighty.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik highlights the "daysman" passage as one of the most significant messianic foreshadowings in the Old Testament. Job's problem is not that God is unjust but that God is inaccessible — too powerful, too transcendent for a mortal to approach. The solution Job intuits — a mediator who can touch both parties — is precisely what the incarnation provides. Guzik also notes that Job's theology of God in this chapter is actually more orthodox than his friends': he affirms God's absolute sovereignty without pretending it always makes sense to humans.
- Charles Spurgeon: "Job's cry for a daysman is the cry of every soul that has awakened to the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. How can the creature approach the Creator? How can dust speak to Deity? Job needed what we have in Christ — one who could lay his hand on both, who was God enough to stand in the divine presence and man enough to stand in our stead. Blessed be God, we have our Daysman. His name is Jesus."
Reflection
- 1. Orthodoxy without access produces despair (v.2). Job's problem is not bad theology — his doctrine of God is magnificent. His problem is that he cannot access God. Knowing God is just does not help if you cannot get a hearing. This is why Christ matters: He makes the inaccessible God accessible.
- 2. The cry for a mediator is universal (v.33). Every human being needs someone to stand between them and God — someone who can touch both. This is not weakness; it is honest assessment of the gap between Creator and creature. If you have Christ, you have what Job longed for and never received in his lifetime.
- 3. Honest doubt is not unbelief (vv.22-24). Job's statement that God "destroyeth the perfect and the wicked" sounds like atheism — but it is actually the observation of a man who believes in God and is struggling with what he sees. Honest doubt that engages God is closer to faith than comfortable certainty that never questions.
- 4. God's power can be terrifying (vv.4-13). Job's description of divine omnipotence does not comfort him — it frightens him. Power without relationship is terrifying. This is why God reveals Himself not only as powerful but as personal — Father, Shepherd, Husband. Without relationship, omnipotence is merely threat.
- 5. You may need an advocate you cannot provide for yourself (v.33). Job's honesty leads him to confess: I cannot represent myself before God. I need someone else. This admission — I cannot save myself — is the beginning of gospel understanding. The first step toward grace is admitting you need what you cannot earn.