Job 23:13

Job 23:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
• New International Version (NIV)“But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

Context of Job 23:13

11My feet have carefully followed His steps; I have kept His ways and not turned aside. 12I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. 14For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me, And He is mindful of many such things. 15Therefore I would be terrified at His presence; When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.

Job 23:13 word by word

וְה֣וּא בְ֭אֶחָד וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ אִוְּתָ֣ה וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• in oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• and who can turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• his soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
• desirethאָוָה'âvâh · to desireH183
• he doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213

Cross-references for Job 23:13

• Job 9:12Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
• Job 11:10If God passes by or arrests, Or calls an assembly [of judgment], who can restrain Him? [If He is against a man, who can call Him to account for it?]
• Job 12:14Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
• Job 34:29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him], Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—
• Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?
• Ecclesiastes 1:15What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.
• Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God].
• Romans 9:19You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”
• James 1:17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
• Psalms 115:3But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
• Psalms 135:6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps—
• Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).
• Isaiah 14:24The Lord of hosts has sworn [an oath], saying, “Just as I have intended, so it has certainly happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand—
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’
• Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth; And no one can hold back His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
• Ephesians 1:9He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,

Commentaries on Job 23:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13But he is in one mind - The original is באחד והוא vehu beechad, and is literally, But he is in one: properly rendered by the Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone. And not badly rendered by Coverdale - It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But he is in one mind - He is unchangeable. He has formed his plans, and no one can divert him from them. Of the truth of this sentiment there can be no dispute. The only difficulty in the case is to see why Job adverted to it here, and how it bears on the train of thought which he was pursuing. The idea seems to be, that God was now accomplishing his eternal purposes in respect to him; that he had formed a plan far back in eternal ages, and that that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 As Job does not once question but that his trials are from the hand of God, and that there is no such thing as chance, how does he account for them? The principle on which he views them is, that the hope and reward of the faithful servants of God are only laid up in another life; and he maintains that it is plain to all, that the wicked are not treated according to their deserts in this life, but often directly the reverse. But though the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14No one can change God's mind (9:12–13; 11:10; 12:14; 34:29; Numbers 23:19–20; James 1:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. in one mind--notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12). soul--His will (Psa 115:3). God's sovereignty. He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 23:13

• God Continued...
• Predestination

In the dictionaries

• Bitter
• Complaint
• Providence
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge

Commentaries on Job 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings