God’s Word Translation
Job 9:21
21If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. I hate my life!
Job 9:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
- New International Version (NIV)“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.
Context of Job 9:21
19If it is a matter of strength, then he is the mighty one. If it is about justice, who will charge me with a crime? 20If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity. If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. I hate my life! 22It is all the same. That is why I say, ‘He destroys ⌞both⌟ the man of integrity and the wicked.’ 23When a sudden disaster brings death, he makes fun of the despair of innocent people.
Read all of Job 9Job 9:21 word by word
תָּֽם־אָ֭נִי לֹֽא־אֵדַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶמְאַ֥ס חַיָּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 9:21
- Psalms 139:23Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts.
- Proverbs 28:26Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool. Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.
- Jeremiah 17:9“The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4I have a clear conscience, but that doesn’t mean I have God’s approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me.
- 1 John 3:20Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.
- Job 7:15My throat would rather be choked. My body would prefer death ⌞to these dreams⌟.
Commentaries on Job 9:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Though I were perfect - Had I the fullest conviction that, in every thought, word, and deed, I were blameless before him, yet I would not plead this; nor would I think it any security for a life of ease and prosperity, or any proof that my days should be prolonged.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Though I were perfect - The same mode of expression occurs here again. “I perfect! I would not know it, or recognize it. If this were my view, and God judged otherwise, I would seem to be ignorant of it. I would not mention it.” Yet would I not know my soul - Or, “I could not know my soul. If I should advance such a claim, it must be from my ignorance of myself.” Is not this true of all the claims to perfection which have ever been set up by man? Do they…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. 32:1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is afterwards reproved. Still Job…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Job was truly blameless, and he consistently claimed this during the debate (1:1, 7; 2:3; 23:11–12; 27:5; 31:1–40).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Literally, here (and in Job 9:20), "I perfect! I should not know my soul! I would despise," [that is], "disown my life"; that is, Though conscious of innocence, I should be compelled, in contending with the infinite God, to ignore my own soul and despise my past life as if it were guilty [Rosenmuller].Read the comment
Topics related to Job 9:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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