Job 23: Job wants to find God and set out his case
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Job answers and says he wishes he knew where to find God, so that he could set his case in order before him and hear the words God would answer. He says he cannot see God to the east, west, north or south, that God knows his way and when tried he will come out like gold, and that he has kept God's way and the commandment of his lips. He ends by saying God does what he desires, that this terrifies him, and that he was not cut off before the darkness.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. The narrator gives one line in verse 1, and Job speaks from verse 2 to the end. No one else is quoted. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Job answered,
In plain English: Then Job answered.
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2“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
In plain English: Even today my complaint is rebellious (or: bitter). His hand (the Hebrew says: my hand) is heavy on (or: in spite of) my groaning.
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew says "my hand is heavy on my groaning". The WEB prints "his hand". "Rebellious" is meri, which the dictionary gives as "bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious".
What changes: With "my hand" the line speaks of Job's own hand on his own groaning. With "his hand" it is God's hand that is heavy. The text does not say more.
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3Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
In plain English: If only I knew where to find him! If only I could come even to his seat (or: place)!
The Hebrew word: "Seat" is tekunah, which the dictionary gives as "something arranged or fixed, i.e. a place". This word is found in 1 verse of the Bible, this one.
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4I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
In plain English: I would set my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
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5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.
In plain English: I would know the words with which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
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6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.
In plain English: Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me (the Hebrew is short: see the note).
The Hebrew words: The end of the verse is short in the Hebrew: "no, surely he would put on me", with nothing said to be put. The WEB supplies "listen".
What changes: The WEB reads that he would listen to Job. The Hebrew does not say what he would put on Job. The text does not say more.
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7There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.
In plain English: There the upright could reason with him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
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8“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.
In plain English: If I go east (the Hebrew says: forward), he is not there. If I go west (the Hebrew says: backward), I cannot find him.
The Hebrew words: In verses 8 and 9 the Hebrew has four words that mean "forward", "backward", "left" and "right". The dictionary gives "the front, ... relatively the East" for qedem (verse 8), "also (as facing north) the West" for achor (verse 8), "the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand" for semol (verse 9), and "the right hand or side ... locally, the south" for yamin (verse 9). The WEB prints east, west, north and south.
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9He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.
In plain English: When he works in the north (the Hebrew says: on the left), I cannot see him. When he turns south (the Hebrew says: to the right), I cannot catch sight of him.
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10But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.
In plain English: But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.
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11My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.
In plain English: My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
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12I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
In plain English: I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (or: more than my portion: see the note).
The Hebrew word: "Necessary food" is choq, which the dictionary gives as "an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)". The same word is in , where the WEB says "appointed". It is in 7 verses of Job, and the WEB says "food" in 1 of them, this one, and "appointed" in 2.
What changes: Word by word the Hebrew reads "more than my portion". With "portion" Job treasured God's words more than what was set aside for him. The text does not say a portion of what.
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13But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
In plain English: But he is one (or: he stands alone), and who can turn him back (or: oppose him)? What his soul desires, even that he does.
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14For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
In plain English: For he performs what is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
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15Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
In plain English: Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
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16For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
In plain English: God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
The Hebrew word: "Almighty" is Shaddai, which the dictionary gives as "the Almighty". It is in 31 verses of Job and 48 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "Almighty" in all of them. "God" in this verse is a different Hebrew word, El.
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17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
In plain English: For I was not cut off before the darkness, and he did not cover the thick darkness from my face (the Hebrew is short and hard: see the note).
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew is short: "for not I was cut off from before darkness, and from before me he covered gloom". "Cut off" is tsamath, which the dictionary gives as "to extirpate (literally or figuratively)". It is in 14 verses of the Bible and in 2 verses of Job, and this one. No one is named for "he covered".
What changes: The WEB reads that Job was not cut off before the darkness, and that "he" did not cover the thick darkness from Job's face. Word by word the Hebrew says "from before darkness" and "from before me he covered gloom", and it does not name who covered. The text does not say more.
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