God’s Word Translation
Job 9:3
3If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn’t be able to answer one question in a thousand.
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
1Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟, 2“Yes, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be declared righteous to God? If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn’t be able to answer one question in a thousand. 4“God is wise in heart and mighty in power. Who could oppose him and win? 5He moves mountains without their knowing it, and he topples 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 9:20If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity.
- Job 10:2I will say to God, ‘Don’t condemn me. Let me know why you are quarreling with me.
- Job 23:3“If only I knew where I could find God! I would go where he lives.
- Job 31:35“If only I had someone who would listen to me! Look, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me. Let the prosecutor write ⌞his complaint⌟ on a scroll.
- Job 33:13Why do you quarrel with him since he doesn’t answer any questions?
- Job 34:14If he thought only of himself and withdrew his Spirit and his breath,
- Job 40:2“Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? Will the person who argues with God answer him?”
- Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
- Romans 9:20Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?”
- Psalms 19:12Who can notice every mistake? Forgive my hidden faults.
- Psalms 40:12Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart.
- 1 John 1:8If we say, “We aren’t sinful” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 John 3:20Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries