God’s Word Translation
Job 9:32
32A human like me cannot answer God, ‘Let’s take our case to court.’
Job 9:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together.
Context of Job 9:32
30If I wash myself with lye soap and cleanse my hands with bleach, 31then you would plunge me into a muddy pit, and my own clothes would find me disgusting. A human like me cannot answer God, ‘Let’s take our case to court.’ 33There is no mediator between us to put his hand on both of us. 34God should take his rod away from me, and he should not terrify me.
Read all of Job 9Job 9:32 word by word
כִּי־לֹא־אִ֣ישׁ כָּמֹ֣נִי אֶֽעֱנֶ֑נּוּ נָב֥וֹא יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 9:32
- Job 33:12You aren’t right about this! I’ve got an answer for you: God is greater than any mortal.
- Job 35:5“Look at the heavens and see. Observe the clouds high above you.
- Numbers 23:19God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
- Ecclesiastes 6:10Whatever has happened ⌞in the past⌟ already has a name. Mortals are already known for what they are. Mortals cannot argue with the one who is stronger than they.
- Isaiah 45:9How horrible it will be for the one who quarrels with his maker. He is pottery among other earthenware pots. Does the clay ask the one who shapes it, “What are you making?” Does your work say to you, “There are no handles”?
- Jeremiah 49:19“I will suddenly chase them from their places like a lion coming out of the jungle along the Jordan River into pastureland. I will appoint over Edom whomever I choose. Who is like me? Who can challenge me? Is there any leader who can stand up to me?”
- 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?”
- 1 John 3:20Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.
- Job 13:18I have prepared my case. I know that I will be declared righteous.
- Job 23:3“If only I knew where I could find God! I would go where he lives.
- Psalms 143:2Do not take me to court for judgment, because there is no one alive who is righteous in your presence.
Commentaries on Job 9:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32For he is not a man as I am - I cannot contend with him as with one of my fellows in a court of justice.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32For he is not a man as I am - He is infinitely superior to me in majesty and power. The idea is, that the contest would be unequal, and that he might as well surrender without bringing the matter to an issue. It is evident that the disposition of Job to yield, was rather because he saw that God was superior in power than because he saw that he was right, and that he felt that if he had ability to manage the cause as well as God could, the matter would not…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 What little need have we of pastimes, and what great need to redeem time, when it runs on so fast towards eternity! How vain the enjoyments of time, which we may quite lose while yet time continues! The remembrance of having done our duty will be pleasing afterwards; so will not the remembrance of having got worldly wealth, when it is all lost and gone. Job's complaint of God, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32-33A mediator does not judge God and man. Instead, the mediator helps bring them together (see 16:19–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. (Ec 6:10; Is 45:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 9:32
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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