Job 9:28-35

28 I am 1afraid of all my pains, I know that 2You will not acquit me.
29 "I am accounted 3wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?
30 "If I should 4wash myself with snow And cleanse 5my hands with lye,
31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.
32 "For 6He is not a man as I am that 7I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.
33 "There is no 8umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 "Let Him 9remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.
35 "Then I 10would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that 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 10

Footnotes 1

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