Job 23:8

Job 23:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
• New International Version (NIV)“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

Context of Job 23:8

6Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me. 7There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge. Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him; 9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not. 10But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:8 word by word

הֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝אָח֗וֹר וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• backwardאָחוֹר'âchôr 'âchôr · backH268
• perceiveבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995

Cross-references for Job 23:8

• Job 9:11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
• Psalms 10:1Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? [Why] hidest thou thyself in times of distress?
• Psalms 13:1How long, Jehovah, wilt thou forget me for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
• Isaiah 45:15Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. ...
• 1 Timothy 6:16who only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor is able to see; to whom [be] honour and eternal might. Amen.

Commentaries on Job 23:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Behold, I go forward - These two verses paint in vivid colors the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favor of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Behold, I go forward - The meaning of these verses is, I go in all directions, but I cannot find God. I am excluded from the trial which I seek, and I cannot bring my cause to his throne. Job expresses his earnest desire to see some visible manifestation of the Deity, and to be permitted to argue his cause in his presence. But he says he sought this in vain. He looked to all points of the compass where he might rationally expect to find God, but all in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had relished and delighted in the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. But I wish in vain. For "behold," &c. forward ... backward--rather, "to the east--to the west." The Hebrew geographers faced the east, that is, sunrise: not the north, as we do. So "before" means east: "behind," west (so the Hindus). Para, "before"--east: Apara, "behind"--west: Daschina, "the right hand"--south: Bama, "left"--north. A similar reference to sunrise appears in the name Asia, "sunrise," Europe, "sunset"; pure Babylonian names, as Rawlinson…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 23:8

• God Continued...
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Bitter
• Complaint
• Forward; Forwardness
• God
• East
• Sun

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