Job 9:3

Job 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
• New International Version (NIV)Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

Context of Job 9:3

1And Job answered and said, 2Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God? If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand. 4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace? 5Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

Job 9:3 word by word

אִם־יַ֭חְפֹּץ לָרִ֣יב עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּ אַחַ֥ת מִנִּי־אָֽלֶף׃Read the interlinear

• answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505

Cross-references for Job 9:3

• Job 9:20If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
• Job 10:2I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou strivest with me.
• Job 23:3Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
• Job 31:35Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
• Job 33:13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
• Job 34:14If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
• Job 40:2Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
• Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy [place], and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Romans 9:20Aye, but thou, O man, who art thou that answerest again to God? Shall the thing formed say to him that has formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
• Psalms 19:12Who understandeth [his] errors? Purify me from secret [faults].
• Psalms 40:12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head: and my heart hath failed me.
• 1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• 1 John 3:20that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Commentaries on Job 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3If he will contend with him - God is so holy, and his law so strict, that if he will enter into judgment with his creatures, the most upright of them cannot be justified in his sight. One of a thousand - Of a thousand offenses of which he may be accused he cannot vindicate himself even in one. How little that any man does, even in the way of righteousness, truth, and mercy, can stand the penetrating eye of a just and holy God, when all motives, feelings…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3If he will contend with him - That is, if God enters into a controversy with man. If he chooses to charge crime on him, and to hold him responsible for his deeds. The language here is taken from courts of justice, and means that if a trial were instituted, where God should submit charges, and the matter were left to adjudication, man could not answer the charges against him; compare the notes at Isaiah 41:1. He cannot answer him one of a thousand - For…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3If one wished to contend with God: Job later wished to meet God in court (13:3, 15, 23; 23:4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. If he--God will contend with him--literally, "deign to enter into judgment." he cannot answer, &c.--He (man) would not dare, even if he had a thousand answers in readiness to one question of God's, to utter one of them, from awe of His Majesty.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 9:3

• Depravity of Man
• God

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Contend
• Daysman
• Pillar
• Job, Book of

Commentaries on Job 9

• 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