Job 9:16

Job 9:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
• New International Version (NIV)Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

Context of Job 9:16

14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? 15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. 17For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. 18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.

Job 9:16 word by word

אִם־קָרָ֥אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי לֹֽא־אַ֝אֲמִ֗ין כִּֽי־יַאֲזִ֥ין קוֹלִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If I had calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• and he had answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• would I not believeאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
• that he had hearkenedאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• unto my voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963

Cross-references for Job 9:16

• Psalms 18:6But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
• Psalms 66:18If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
• Psalms 116:1I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
• Job 29:24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.
• Exodus 6:9So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.
• Judges 6:13“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
• Luke 24:41Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
• Acts 12:14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”

Commentaries on Job 9:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16If I had called, and he had answered - I could scarcely suppose, such is his majesty and such his holiness, that he could condescend to notice a being so mean, and in every respect so infinitely beneath his notice. These sentiments sufficiently confuted that slander of his friends, who said he was presumptuous, had not becoming notions of the majesty of God, and used blasphemous expressions against his sovereign authority.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16If I had called, and he had answered me - It is remarked by Schultens, that the expressions in these verses are all taken from courts of justice. If so, the meaning is, that even if Job should call the Almighty to a judicial action, and he should respond to him, and consent to submit the great question about his innocence, and about the justice of the divine dealings with him, to trial, yet that such was the distance between God and him, that he could not…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. 16-1716-17. would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice--who breaketh me (as a tree stripped of its leaves) with a tempest.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 9:16

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Blasphemy
• Doubting
• God

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Contend
• Daysman
• Pillar
• Job, Book of
• believe, believer, belief, unbeliever, unbelief

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