Job 9:21

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.

Context of Job 9:21

19If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? 20Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. 22It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.

Job 9:21 word by word

תָּֽם־אָ֭נִי לֹֽא־אֵדַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶמְאַ֥ס חַיָּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• perfectתָּםtâm · completeH8535
• would I not knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• I would despiseמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
• my lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416

Cross-references for Job 9:21

• Psalms 139:23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
• Proverbs 28:26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
• Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
• 1 Corinthians 4:4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
• 1 John 3:20If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
• Job 7:15so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.

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

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Doubting
• God
• Perfection

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Contend
• Daysman
• Pillar
• Job, Book of

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