God’s Word Translation
Job 33:23
23“If they have a messenger for them, a spokesman, one in a thousand, to tell people what is right for them,
Job 33:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
- New International Version (NIV)Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
- English Standard Version (ESV)If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
Context of Job 33:23
21Their flesh becomes so thin that it can’t be seen. Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed. 22Their souls approach the pit. Their lives come close to those already dead. “If they have a messenger for them, a spokesman, one in a thousand, to tell people what is right for them, 24then he will have pity on them and say, ‘Free them from going into the pit. I have found a ransom.’ 25Then their flesh will become softer than a child’s. They will go back to the days of their youth.
Read all of Job 33Job 33:23 word by word
אִם־יֵ֤שׁ עָלָ֨יו׀ מַלְאָ֗ךְ מֵלִ֗יץ אֶחָ֥ד מִנִּי־אָ֑לֶף לְהַגִּ֖יד לְאָדָ֣ם יָשְׁרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
- be a messengerמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- with him, an interpreterלִיץlûts · to mockH3887
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- among a thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- to shewנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- unto manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- his uprightnessיֹ֫שֶׁרyôsher · uprightnessH3476
Cross-references for Job 33:23
- Judges 2:1The Messenger of the Lord went from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt into the land that I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my promise to you.
- 2 Chronicles 36:15The Lord God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his messengers because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.
- Haggai 1:13Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord who had received the Lord’s message, said to the people, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
- Malachi 2:7“A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the Lord of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth.
- Malachi 3:1“I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want,” says the Lord of Armies.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore, we are Christ’s representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God.
- Job 34:32Teach me what I cannot see. If I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again.’
- Psalms 94:12O Lord, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.
- Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released.
- Acts 8:30Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
- 1 Corinthians 11:30This is the reason why many of you are weak and sick and quite a number ⌞of you⌟ have died.
- Hebrews 12:5You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children: “My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you. Don’t give up when he corrects you.
- Job 9:3If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn’t be able to answer one question in a thousand.
- Ecclesiastes 7:28I am still seeking a reason for things, but have not found any. I found one man out of a thousand who had it, but out of all these I didn’t find one woman.
- Romans 11:13Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry.
- Job 11:6He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, because ⌞true⌟ wisdom is twice ⌞as great as your wisdom⌟, and you would know that God forgets your sin.
Commentaries on Job 33:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23V. The Messengers If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, etc. - The Messengers of righteousness; this is a Fifth method, מליץ מלאך עליו יש אם im yesh alaiv malach melits, "If there be over him an interpreting or mediatorial angel or messenger." One among a thousand, אלף מני אחד echad minni aleph . "One from the Chief, Head, or Teacher." To show unto man his uprightness - ישרו לאדם להגיד lehaggid leadam yoshro, "to manifest or cause to be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23If there be a messenger with him - This part of the speech of Elihu has given rise to scarcely less diversity of opinion, and to scarcely less discussion, than the celebrated passage in Job 19:25-27. Almost every interpreter has had a special view of its meaning, and of course it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine its true sense. Before the opinions which have been entertained are specified, and an attempt made to determine the true sense…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 Job complained of his diseases, and judged by them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too: but Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for good to the soul. This thought will be of great use for our getting good from sickness, in and by which God speaks to men. Pain is the fruit of sin; yet, by the grace of God, the pain of the body is often made a means of good to the soul. When afflictions have done their work, they shall…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23An angel or messenger from heaven would act as the mediator Job desired (see 5:1; 9:33–34; 16:18–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Elihu refers to himself as the divinely-sent (Job 32:8; 33:6) "messenger," the "interpreter" to explain to Job and vindicate God's righteousness; such a one Eliphaz had denied that Job could look for (Job 5:1), and Job (Job 9:33) had wished for such a "daysman" or umpire between him and God. The "messenger" of good is antithetical to the "destroyers" (Job 33:23). with him--if there be vouchsafed to the sufferer. The office of the interpreter is stated…Read the comment
Topics related to Job 33:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 33
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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