New King James Version
Job 23:8
8“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
Job 23:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
- New International Version (NIV)“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;
- New Living Translation (NLT)I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him.
Context of Job 23:8
6Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me. 7There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge. “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Read all of Job 23Job 23:8 word by word
הֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝אָח֗וֹר וְֽלֹא־אָבִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 23:8
- Job 9:11If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
- Psalms 10:1Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
- Psalms 13:1How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
- Isaiah 45:15Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior!
- 1 Timothy 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Commentaries on Job 23:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Behold, I go forward - These two verses paint in vivid colors the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favor of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Behold, I go forward - The meaning of these verses is, I go in all directions, but I cannot find God. I am excluded from the trial which I seek, and I cannot bring my cause to his throne. Job expresses his earnest desire to see some visible manifestation of the Deity, and to be permitted to argue his cause in his presence. But he says he sought this in vain. He looked to all points of the compass where he might rationally expect to find God, but all in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had relished and delighted in the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. But I wish in vain. For "behold," &c. forward ... backward--rather, "to the east--to the west." The Hebrew geographers faced the east, that is, sunrise: not the north, as we do. So "before" means east: "behind," west (so the Hindus). Para, "before"--east: Apara, "behind"--west: Daschina, "the right hand"--south: Bama, "left"--north. A similar reference to sunrise appears in the name Asia, "sunrise," Europe, "sunset"; pure Babylonian names, as Rawlinson…Read the comment
Topics related to Job 23:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 23
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries