New King James Version
Job 9:19
19If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
Job 9:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
- New International Version (NIV)If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?
- English Standard Version (ESV)If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
- New Living Translation (NLT)If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?
Context of Job 9:19
17For He crushes me with a tempest, And multiplies my wounds without cause. 18He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? 20Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. 21“I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.
Read all of Job 9Job 9:19 word by word
אִם־לְכֹ֣חַ אַמִּ֣יץ הִנֵּ֑ה וְאִם־לְ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מִ֣י יוֹעִידֵֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 9:19
- Job 9:4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
- Job 36:17But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
- Job 40:9Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
- Psalms 62:11God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
- Matthew 6:13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- 1 Corinthians 1:25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
- 1 Corinthians 10:22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
- Job 9:32“For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together.
- Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!
- Job 33:5If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
Commentaries on Job 9:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - Human wisdom, power, and influence avail nothing before him. Who shall set me a time - יועידני מי mi yoideni, "Who would be a witness for me?" or, Who would dare to appear in my behalf? Almost all the terms in this part of the speech of Job, Job 9:11-24, are forensic or juridical, and are taken from legal processes and pleadings in their gates or courts of justice.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - There has been a considerable variety in the interpretation of this passage. The meaning seems to be this. It refers to a judicial contest, and Job is speaking of the effect if he and God were to come to a trial, and the cause were to be settled before judges. He is urging reasons why he would have no hope of success in such a case. He says, therefore, “If the matter pertained only to strength, or if it were to…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. 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. 1919. Umbreit takes these as the words of God, translating, "What availeth the might of the strong?" "Here (saith he) behold! what availeth justice? Who will appoint me a time to plead?" (So Jr 49:19). The last words certainly apply better to God than to Job. The sense is substantially the same if we make "me" apply to Job. The "lo!" expresses God's swift readiness for battle when challenged.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 9:19
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries