Job 9:29
Job 9:29 in Multiple Translations
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?
But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
He will ◄condemn me/declare that I should be punished►, so why should I keep trying in vain to defend myself?
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 9:29
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 9:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָנֹכִ֥י
אֶרְשָׁ֑ע
לָ/מָּה
זֶּ֝֗ה
הֶ֣בֶל
אִיגָֽע
אָנֹכִ֥י
ʼânôkîy
H595
I
Pron
אֶרְשָׁ֑ע
râshaʻ
H7561
be wicked
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
לָ/מָּה
mâh
H4100
what?
Prep | Part
זֶּ֝֗ה
zeh
H2088
this
Pron
הֶ֣בֶל
hebel
H1892
vanity
N-ms
אִיגָֽע
yâgaʻ
H3021
be weary/toil
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 9:29
אָנֹכִ֥י
ʼânôkîy
H595
"I"
Pron
This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.
Definition: I (first pers. sing.) Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)
Usage: Occurs in 335 OT verses. KJV: I, me, [idiom] which. See also: Genesis 3:10; Deuteronomy 11:26; 2 Samuel 3:39.
אֶרְשָׁ֑ע
râshaʻ
H7561
"be wicked"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
Being wicked or acting wrongly is what this Hebrew word describes. In Psalm 37:7, the Bible warns against being wicked and instead encourages trusting in God.
Definition: 1) to be wicked, act wickedly 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be wicked, act wickedly 1a2) to be guilty, be condemned 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to condemn as guilty (in civil relations) 1b2) to condemn as guilty (in ethical or religious relations) 1b3) to act wickedly (in ethics and religion)
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness). See also: Exodus 22:8; Job 32:3; Psalms 18:22.
לָ/מָּה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
זֶּ֝֗ה
zeh
H2088
"this"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
הֶ֣בֶל
hebel
H1892
"vanity"
N-ms
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Definition: 1) vapour, breath 1a) breath, vapour 1b) vanity (fig.) adv 2) vainly
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] altogether, vain, vanity. See also: Deuteronomy 32:21; Ecclesiastes 4:7; Psalms 31:7.
אִיגָֽע
yâgaʻ
H3021
"be weary/toil"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to be weary or toil, like in Exodus where the Israelites were exhausted from their labor, and is often translated as faint or labor in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to toil, labour, grow weary, be weary 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to toil, labour 1a2) to grow weary, be weary 1b) (Piel) to weary, make weary, cause to go toilsomely 1c) (Hiphil) to make to toil, make weary, cause to be weary
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary. See also: Joshua 7:3; Isaiah 43:23; Psalms 6:7.
Study Notes — Job 9:29
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 9:29 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 9:29
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 9:29
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 9:29
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 9:29
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 9:29
- Cambridge Bible on Job 9:29
- Barnes' Notes on Job 9:29
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 9:29
- Sermons on Job 9:29
Context — Job: How Can I Contend with God?
27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, 31then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 10:7 | though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand? |
| 2 | Job 21:27 | Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me. |
| 3 | Job 10:14–17 | If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction. Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me. You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave. |
| 4 | Job 10:2 | I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me. |
| 5 | Job 21:16–17 | Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction? |
| 6 | Jeremiah 2:35 | you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ |
| 7 | Job 22:5–30 | Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless? For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing. You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished, while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it. You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed. Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you; it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are! Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness? Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven. ’ Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod? They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood. They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’ But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked. The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them: ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’ Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you. Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways. When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly. He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.” |
| 8 | Psalms 37:33 | the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. |
| 9 | Job 9:22 | It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ |
| 10 | Psalms 73:13 | Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands. |
Job 9:29 Summary
[This verse, Job 9:29, shows that Job feels like he's already been found guilty by God, and that trying to defend himself is pointless. He's feeling hopeless and frustrated, like he's trying to clean himself up but can't, as seen in Job 9:30. This reminds us that we can't earn God's favor by our own efforts, but instead need to trust in His mercy and grace, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9. Just like Job, we can be honest with God about our feelings and struggles, and trust that He is working everything out for our good, as promised in Romans 8:28.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Job mean when he says he is already found guilty?
Job is expressing his feelings of hopelessness and despair, believing that God has already condemned him, as seen in Job 9:29, and that his efforts to plead his case are in vain, similar to the feelings of guilt and shame expressed in Psalm 51:3-4.
Is Job giving up on his faith in God?
No, Job is not giving up on his faith, but rather, he is struggling to understand why he is suffering, as seen in Job 9:29, and is expressing his frustration and feelings of despair, similar to the psalmist in Psalms 13:1-2.
How does this verse relate to the concept of original sin?
This verse can be seen as a reflection of the human condition, where we are all guilty before God due to our sin, as stated in Romans 3:23, and that our efforts to justify ourselves are ultimately in vain, as seen in Job 9:29 and Isaiah 64:6.
What can we learn from Job's emotional struggle in this verse?
We can learn that it is okay to express our emotions and struggles to God, as Job does in Job 9:29, and that He is able to handle our doubts and fears, as seen in Psalms 42:11 and Lamentations 3:22-23.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel like I am laboring in vain, and how can I surrender them to God?
- How do I respond when I feel like God is not hearing my prayers or answering my questions, like Job does in Job 9:29?
- In what ways can I identify with Job's feelings of guilt and shame, and how can I apply the concept of God's forgiveness and redemption to those areas?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of humility and recognizing my limitations before God?
- How can I balance my desire for justice and understanding with the reality of God's sovereignty and mystery, as seen in Job 9:29 and Deuteronomy 29:29?
Gill's Exposition on Job 9:29
[If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?] If he was that wicked person, that hypocrite, Bildad and his other friends took him to be, it was in vain for him to make his supplications to God, as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 9:29
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? The if is better omitted: I (am treated by God, once for all, as) If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 9:29
Heb. I shall be wicked, or guilty, to wit, before thee. Whether I be holy or wicked, if I dispute with thee, I shall be found guilty. Or thus, I shall be used like a wicked man, and punished as such. So this is opposed to his not being held innocent, , i.e. not being acquitted or exempt from punishment. Why then should I not indulge my griefs, but restrain them? Why should I comfort myself with vain hopes of deliverance, as thou advisest me, ; or seek to God, as I was directed, , for that ease which I see he is resolved not to give me? Why should I trouble myself with clearing mine innocency, seeing God will still hold me guilty?
Trapp's Commentary on Job 9:29
Job 9:29 [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Ver. 29. If I be wicked] Heb. I am wicked, sc. in your thoughts, and you have so earnestly and effectually affirmed it, and confirmed it, that I am almost ready to say as you say, I am wicked. Plato brings in Socrates in his apology to the judges, thus bespeaking them, My lords, I know not how you have been affected with mine accusers’ eloquence while you heard them speak; for mine own part, I assure you that I, whom it toucheth most, was almost drawn to believe that all they said, though against myself, was true, when they scarcely uttered one word of truth. The Chaldee paraphrase reads it, I shall be culpable, or, I shall be condemned. Why then labour I in vain?] Or, for nothing, as the Chaldee hath it. See the like Psalms 73:13-14. Why put I myself to so much fruitless pains, either in praying to God, or apologizing to you, my friends, since by God I am still afflicted, and by you reputed a wicked person? Job’ s hope was low, his endeavour was therefore little. Si nihil sperarem, nihil orarem, saith one.
Let us pray on. God sometimes defers to come till men have even left looking for him, till he scarce findeth faith upon earth, Luke 18:8.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 9:29
Verse 29. If I be wicked] If I am the sinner you suppose me to be, in vain should I labour to counterfeit joy, and cease to complain of my sufferings.
Cambridge Bible on Job 9:29
29. if I be wicked] Rather, I shall be guilty, that is, I have to be, shall be held, guilty; God has resolved so to consider me. Everywhere in these verses guilt and afflictions mean the same thing, the one being the sign of the other.
Barnes' Notes on Job 9:29
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? - The word “if,” here introduced by our translators, greatly obscures the sense. The meaning evidently is, “I am held to be guilty, and cannot answer to that charge.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 9:29
Strophe b — Job is divinely judged to be guilty; all efforts to free himself from guilt will therefore be futile, Job 9:29-31.29. If I be wicked — I, I am to be held guilty. Literally, I shall be guilty.Omit if.
Sermons on Job 9:29
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Christ, Our High Priest by F.J. Huegel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the perfect standing that believers have before God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He uses an illustration of a special event in Mex |
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Testimony of Thomas Ellwood Concerning Isaac Penington by Isaac Penington | Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'provoked' in the context of sharp irritation or anger, emphasizing the importance of not yielding to provocation and maintaining a sp |
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God's Truth About Responsibility by Russell Kelfer | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the controversial topic of responsibility and who is to blame for our problems. He discusses the common belief that Satan is responsible for |
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Distress of Job - Part 2 by W.F. Anderson | The video is a sermon on the book of Job in the Bible. It begins by describing the structure of the book, with a prologue and three cycles of speeches between Job and his friends. |
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Look Into Those Languid Eyes! by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of seeking a deep, personal connection with Jesus, urging believers to confront their spiritual apathy and return to the cross for renewal. |
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Discovering God's Graces by Charles E. Cowman | Charles H. Spurgeon preaches about how trials and afflictions are often used by God to develop and reveal the graces within us. Just like how faith shines brighter in times of adve |
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Do You Confess? by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes the critical importance of confessing sins as a foundational aspect of saving faith, asserting that all people, regardless of status, are called to acknowledge |