Job 10:6 — Word Study
WLCכִּֽי־ תְבַקֵּ֥שׁ לַעֲוֹנִ֑י וּ֭לְחַטָּאתִ֥י תִדְרֽוֹשׁ׃
BSAthatkîy You should seekbâqash▸ [inquire after, search out] my iniquityʻâvôn [moral evil, sin] and search outdârash▸ [investigate, look for] my sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, wrongdoing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | that | Particle |
| תְבַקֵּ֥שׁ | you will seek | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| לַעֲוֹנִ֑י | for iniquity my | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּ֭לְחַטָּאתִ֥י | and for sin my | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| תִדְרֽוֹשׁ׃ | you will search | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin— |
| KJV | That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? |
| ASV | That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin, |
| YLT | That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest? |
| WEB | that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? |
| BBE | That you take note of my sin, searching after my wrongdoing, |
Where they part company is תְבַקֵּשׁ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents Job's concern, followed by a subordinate clause that adds to his plea.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּקַשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 10:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Lamentgenerated
Job 10:6 captures Job's deep anguish as he questions God about his suffering. He feels that God is searching for his iniquity, even though he believes he is not guilty. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job is expressing his frustration and confusion regarding his plight and the nature of divine justice, as seen in the surrounding verses, particularly Job 10:5 and Job 10:7.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 10:14–17 | If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. |
| 2 | Psalm 10:15 | Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found. |
| 3 | Psalm 44:21 | would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart? |
| 4 | Jeremiah 2:34 | Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things |
| 5 | Zephaniah 1:12 | And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תְבַקֵּשׁ, te.va.Keshgenerated
The verb בָּקַשׁ (baqash) means to seek or search for something. In this context, it suggests an active pursuit, emphasizing Job's feeling of being hunted for his moral failings.
The Piel form indicates intensity, suggesting that Job feels not only that God is seeking his iniquity but doing so with purpose and thoroughness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
Two finite verbs govern the verse: תְבַקֵּשׁ (you will seek) and תִדְרֽוֹשׁ (you will search). The structure emphasizes Job's plea by placing the actions of seeking and searching at the forefront.
The verbs are complemented by prepositional phrases that specify what Job feels is being sought — his iniquity and sin — creating a clear and poignant expression of his turmoil.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תְבַקֵּשׁ as ἀνεζήτησας, which means 'you sought out.' This choice indicates a direct and personal engagement by God in Job's moral state.
This rendering suggests a more intense scrutiny, aligning with Job's feelings of being closely examined.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 10:6 shows Job asking God why He seeks his iniquity and searches for his sin. Job feels that he is being unjustly scrutinized despite believing he is not guilty.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job refers to moral evil or sin that he believes is being sought out by God.
Job feels that his suffering is unjust and questions why God would investigate his moral failings.
Job's lament expresses his anguish and confusion regarding his suffering and God's justice.
It shows Job's struggle to understand God's actions and his feelings of being unfairly judged.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond when I feel unjustly scrutinized for my actions?
- In what ways can I seek to understand God's purpose in my suffering?
- What does it mean to me that God is aware of my iniquities?
- How can I find peace in my relationship with God despite my feelings of guilt?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 10:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThat thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?] Narrowly examined every action of his life, to find something amiss in them; and took notice of every weakness and infirmity, and
Read John Gill on Job 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAre thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days, Hast thou eyes of flesh? ... Are thy days as the days of man? ... That thou inquirest after mine iniquity?
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleKeeping me so long as it were upon the rack to compel me to accuse myself, as men sometimes do.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 10:6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?Ver. 6. That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, &c.] viz. By strong pains and mighty terrors, as judges sometimes make inquisition by torture, to find out treason or other heinous offences. What, wouldest thou that I should confess myself a wicked person?
Read John Trapp on Job 10 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. That thou inquirest] Is it becoming thy infinite dignity to concern thyself so much with the affairs or transgressions of a despicable mortal? A word spoken in the heart of most sinners.
Read AdamClarke on Job 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5–7. Then he asks if God’s life be brief like human life, that by the inquisition of chastisements He seeks to bring Job’s sin to light, lest His victim should outlive Him, and hurries on his punishment lest some one should rescue His captive from His hand.
Read Cambridge on Job 10 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThat thou inquirest after mine iniquity - Art thou governed by hu man passions and prejudices, that thou dost thus seem to search out every little obliquity and error?
Read Albert Barnes on Job 10 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. Thou inquirest — The idea of Ewald, that Job conceives of God as some mighty monarch who, like those on earth, puts the unhappy one to the rack that he may constrain a confession, is not justified by the text.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin—
that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?
that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin—
that you must search out my iniquity, and inquire about my sin,
Tyndale line
That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,
That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin,
That thou inquirest after my iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
That thou inquirest of mine iniquitie, and searchest out my sinne?
Strictly literal
That thou searchest after mine iniquity, and inquirest into my sin;
That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
That You inquire for my iniquity, || And seek for my sin?
That thou inquirest after my iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
that you inquire after my iniquity and search after my sin,
From the Latin
That thou shouldst inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?
Simplified
that you have to examine my wrongs and investigate my sins?
That you take note of my sin, searching after my wrongdoing,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of תְבַקֵּשׁ and תִדְרֽוֹשׁ, confirming that Job's lament is consistently portrayed across these texts.
כִּֽי־ תְבַקֵּ֥שׁ לַעֲוֹנִ֑י וּ֭לְחַטָּאתִ֥י תִדְרֽוֹשׁ׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 10:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
Conj — ParticleHTc
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singularHVpi2ms
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.
H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin
. sin-offering
H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin
. condition of sin, guilt of sin
. punishment for sin
. sin-offering
. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'
or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes
habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or
expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of
sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
see HEBREW for 02398
חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.
sin, sinful thing
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.
: sin
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.
: sin_offering
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.
: punishment/purification
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek
Qal
(tread a place,) resort to, frequent
seek, consult, inquire of
seek deity in prayer and worship
seek, with idea of demanding, require
inquire, investigate (a matter)
ask for, require, demand
seek with application, study, follow, practise
seek with care, care for
Niph.
let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God
be sought out
be required, of blood
base
H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek
1875 darash daw-rash'
a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to
follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or
ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X
diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,
question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.
דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.
1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)
1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek
1a2a) of God
1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers
1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship
1a3a) God
1a3b) heathen deities
1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require
1a5) to investigate, enquire
1a6) to ask for, require, demand
1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application
1a8) to seek with care, care for
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)
1b2) to be sought, be sought out
1b3) to be required (of blood)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
surch: Some peculiar senses are:
(1) In the books of Moses, especially in Nu, "searching out the land" means to spy out (raggel), to investigate carefully, to examine with a view to giving a full and accurate report on.
(2) When applied to the Scriptures, as in Ezr 4:15,19 (baqqer); Joh 5:39; 1Pe 1:11 (eraunao), it means to examine, to study out the meaning. In Ac 17:11, the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "examining" for the "searched" of the King James Version. See SEARCHINGS.
(3) "Search out" often means to study critically, to investigate carefully, e.g. Job 8:8; 29:16;