English Standard Version
Job 9:3
3If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
Context of Job 9:3
1Then Job answered and said: 2"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. 4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?— 5he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,
Read all of Job 9Job 9:3 word by word
אִם־יַ֭חְפֹּץ לָרִ֣יב עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּ אַחַ֥ת מִנִּי־אָֽלֶף׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 9:3
- Job 9:20Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
- Job 10:2I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
- Job 23:3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
- Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
- Job 33:13Why do you contend against him, saying, 'He will answer none of man's words'?
- Job 34:14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
- Job 40:2"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
- Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Romans 9:20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
- Psalms 19:12Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
- Psalms 40:12For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
- 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 John 3:20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries