New King James Version
Job 9:2
2“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous 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 Living Translation (NLT)“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
Context of Job 9:2
1Then Job answered and said: “Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God? 3If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
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‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
- Job 14:3And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself?
- Job 25:4How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?
- Job 32:2Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
- Job 33:9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
- Job 34:5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
- 1 Kings 8:46“When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near;
- Psalms 130:3If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
- Psalms 143:2Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
- Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries