Job 9:3

Job 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
• New International Version (NIV)Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

Context of Job 9:3

1Then Job spoke again: 2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight? If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times? 4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully? 5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.

Job 9:3 word by word

אִם־יַ֭חְפֹּץ לָרִ֣יב עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּ אַחַ֥ת מִנִּי־אָֽלֶף׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If he willחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
• contendרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
• with him, he cannot answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• him oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of a thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505

Cross-references for Job 9:3

• Job 9:20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.
• Job 10:2I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me— tell me the charge you are bringing against me.
• Job 23:3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.
• Job 31:35“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
• Job 33:13So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
• Job 34:14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,
• Job 40:2“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
• Isaiah 57:15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
• Romans 9:20No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”
• Psalms 19:12How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
• Psalms 40:12For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
• 1 John 1:8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
• 1 John 3:20Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Commentaries on Job 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3If he will contend with him - God is so holy, and his law so strict, that if he will enter into judgment with his creatures, the most upright of them cannot be justified in his sight. One of a thousand - Of a thousand offenses of which he may be accused he cannot vindicate himself even in one. How little that any man does, even in the way of righteousness, truth, and mercy, can stand the penetrating eye of a just and holy God, when all motives, feelings…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3If he will contend with him - That is, if God enters into a controversy with man. If he chooses to charge crime on him, and to hold him responsible for his deeds. The language here is taken from courts of justice, and means that if a trial were instituted, where God should submit charges, and the matter were left to adjudication, man could not answer the charges against him; compare the notes at Isaiah 41:1. He cannot answer him one of a thousand - For…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3If one wished to contend with God: Job later wished to meet God in court (13:3, 15, 23; 23:4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. If he--God will contend with him--literally, "deign to enter into judgment." he cannot answer, &c.--He (man) would not dare, even if he had a thousand answers in readiness to one question of God's, to utter one of them, from awe of His Majesty.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 9:3

• Depravity of Man
• God

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