Job 23:5

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

American Standard Version (1901)

I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

Bible in Basic English

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

Free Bible Version

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

King James (Authorized) Version

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Translation for Translators

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

Unlocked Literal Bible

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

Noah Webster Bible

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

World English Bible

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

Young's Literal Translation

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

Context

Job Longs for God

⁴I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. ⁵I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say. ⁶Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Summary

In this verse, Job expresses his desire to present his case before God and to understand the reason for his suffering. Despite feeling abandoned and unable to perceive God's presence, Job's faith remains steadfast as he seeks to find God and receive answers. Job's longing for a divine encounter reflects his deep trust in God's justice and wisdom, even in the midst of his trials. This verse captures the tension between human suffering and the search for divine understanding, illustrating the complexity of faith in times of adversity.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

I would know the words which he would answer me - He would speak nothing but what was true, decree nothing that was not righteous, nor utter any thing that I could not comprehend.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Will he plead against me with his great power?.... God will not plead against his people at all, but for them: much less will he plead against them with his great strength, use all his power to run them down, crush, and oppress them; for he is a great God, and of great power, he is mighty in strength, and there is no contending with him, or answering of him, Job 9:3; nor will he deal with them according to the strict rigour of his justice, nor stir up all his wrath, nor contend for ever with them in such a way; for then the spirits would fail before him, and the souls that he has made; whatever he does with others, making known his power on the vessels of wrath, he will never act after this manner with the vessels of mercy: no, but he would put strength in me: to pray unto him, and prevail with him to lay hold on him, and not let him go without the blessing, as Jacob did, Hos 12:3; or to stand before him, and plead his own cause with him, in such a strong and powerful manner as to bear down all the accusations and charges brought against him: or "he will set his heart upon me" (d); deal mildly and gently, kindly and graciously, and not with his great strength and strict justice; or "will not put sins upon me", as Jarchi, or lay charges to him, however guilty of them, as his friends did, or impute such to him he never committed: God is so far from doing this to his people, that he does not impute their sins to them they have committed, but to his son, much less will he lay upon them more than is right, Job 34:23. Some take the sense of the words to be this, in answer to the above question, "will he plead against me with his great power?" let him do it, "only let him not set upon me" (e), in an hostile way, and then I do not decline entering the debate with him; which expresses great boldness and confidence, and even too much, and must be reckoned among the unbecoming expressions Job was afterwards convinced of; but this he utters in his passion, in order the more clearly to show, and the more strongly to assert, his innocence. (d) "ipse apponeret ad me animum", Junius & Tremellius; so Piscator, Cocceius, & Aben Ezra. (e) Schultens.

Job 23:5

Job Longs for God

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

American Standard Version (1901)

I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

Bible in Basic English

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

Free Bible Version

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

King James (Authorized) Version

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Translation for Translators

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

Unlocked Literal Bible

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

Noah Webster Bible

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

World English Bible

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

Young's Literal Translation

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

I would know the words which he would answer me - He would speak nothing but what was true, decree nothing that was not righteous, nor utter any thing that I could not comprehend.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 23:5

Verse

Context

Job Longs for God

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 23:5

Job Longs for God

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary