Job 23:3

Job 23:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
• New International Version (NIV)If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!
• English Standard Version (ESV)Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!

Context of Job 23:3

1Then Job answered and said, 2“Even today my complaint is contentious; His hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat! 4I would present my cause before Him And fill my mouth with arguments. 5I would learn the words which He would answer, And understand what He would say to me.

Job 23:3 word by word

מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן יָ֭דַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵ֑הוּ אָ֝ב֗וֹא עַד־תְּכוּנָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Oh thatנָתַןnâthan · to give: if only!H5414
• I knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• where I might findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• I might comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to his seatתְּכוּנָהtekûnâh · placeH8499

Cross-references for Job 23:3

• Job 13:3“But I wish to speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.
• Job 16:21Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me] Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.
• Job 40:1Then the Lord said to Job,
• Isaiah 26:8Indeed, in the path of Your judgments, O Lord, We have waited expectantly for You; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire and deep longing of our souls.
• Jeremiah 14:7O Lord, though our many sins testify against us” [prays Jeremiah], “Act now [for us and] for Your name’s sake [so that the faithless may witness Your faithfulness]! For our backslidings are countless; We have sinned against You.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
• 2 Corinthians 5:19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].
• Hebrews 4:6Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,
• Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].

Commentaries on Job 23:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3O that I knew where I might find him! - This and the following verse may be read thus: "Who will give me the knowledge of God, that I may find him out? I would come to his establishment; (the place or way in which he has promised to communicate himself); I would exhibit, in detail, my judgment (the cause I wish to be tried) before his face; and my mouth would I fill with convincing or decisive arguments;" arguments drawn from his common method of saving…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Oh that I knew where I might find him! - Where I might find “God.” He had often expressed a wish to bring his cause directly before God, and to be permitted to plead his cause there; see Job 13:3, note; Job 13:20, notes. But this he had not yet been able to do. The argument had been with his three friends, and he saw that there was no use in attempting further to convince them. If he could get the cause before God, and be allowed go plead it there, he…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. The same wish as in Job 13:3 (compare He 10:19-22). Seat--The idea in the Hebrew is a well-prepared throne (Psa 9:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 23:3

• God Continued...
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Bitter
• Complaint
• God
• Seat

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