¶“But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
- KJV Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
- BSB Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
- NKJV But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
- NLT As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job would rather plead his case directly before God than argue with his friends. He longs to reason with the Almighty Himself.
Overview
Turning from his friends, Job expresses his deepest desire: to speak to the Almighty and reason with God. Rather than debating men who misjudge him, he appeals to the only true Judge. This longing for a direct hearing before God foreshadows the mediator humanity needs, supplied in Christ, through whom believers draw near to God with confidence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Isa 41:21Produce your cause,” says Yahweh. “Bring out your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
- Isa 1:18–20“Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Job 9:3If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
- Job 13:22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.
- Job 31:35oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!
- Mic 6:2Hear, you mountains, Yahweh’s controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
- Job 9:14–15How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?
- Job 11:5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,
- Job 13:15Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
- Jer 12:1–2You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?
- Job 9:34–35Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
- Job 23:3–7Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 13:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.