New English Translation
Job 9:2
2“Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?
Job 9:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
- New International Version (NIV)“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?
Context of Job 9:2
1Then Job answered: “Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God? 3If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand. 4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has resisted him and remained safe?
Read all of Job 9Job 9:2 word by word
אָ֭מְנָם יָדַ֣עְתִּי כִי־כֵ֑ן וּמַה־יִּצְדַּ֖ק אֱנ֣וֹשׁ עִם־אֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 9:2
- Job 4:17“Is a mortal man righteous before God? Or a man pure before his Creator?
- Job 14:3Do you fix your eye on such a one? And do you bring me before you for judgment?
- Job 25:4How then can a human being be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure?
- Job 32:2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.
- Job 33:9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.
- Job 34:5For Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God turns away my right.
- 1 Kings 8:46“The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their own land, whether far away or close by.
- Psalms 130:3If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?
- Psalms 143:2Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.
- Romans 3:20For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Commentaries on Job 9:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I know it is so of a truth - I acknowledge the general truth of the maxims you have advanced. God will not ultimately punish a righteous person, nor shall the wicked finally triumph; and though righteous before man, and truly sincere in my piety, yet I know, when compared with the immaculate holiness of God, all my righteousness is nothing.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I know it is so of a truth - Job here refers, undoubtedly, to something that had been said before; but whether it is to the general strain of remark, or to some particular expression, may be doubted. Rosenmuller supposes that he refers to what was said by Eliphaz in Job 4:17; but it seems more probable that it is to the general position which had been laid down and defended, that God was just and holy, and that his proceedings were marked with equity. Job…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-35Job answered Bildad by describing God's universal and legal power. His speech resembles a complex legal case. It includes: A summons and response (9:3, 14–16, 19b, 32). The risk of proving himself guilty (9:20). A "mediator" (9:33–34). A question of accusation (9:12). A legal sentence (9:22). A declaration of guilt (9:28–30).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-35FIRST SERIES. 2. I know it is so of a truth--that God does not "pervert justice" (Job 8:3). But (even though I be sure of being in the right) how can a mere man assert his right--(be just) with God. The Gospel answers (Ro 3:26).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 9:2
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
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