But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
- BSB But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
- NKJV “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
- NASB “But He is unique, and who can make Him turn? Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
- NLT But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.
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 confesses that God is sovereign and unopposable, doing whatever He desires. It matters because Job submits to God's unchallengeable will even amid confusion.
Overview
Job acknowledges that God stands alone, beyond resistance, accomplishing all His pleasure. This is a high view of divine sovereignty, even though Job cannot understand why it is directed at his pain. Such confidence in God's unstoppable purpose anticipates the gospel assurance that His sovereign will works for the good of those He loves (Rom. 8:28).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 115:3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
- Prov 19:21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
- Dan 4:35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
- Isa 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
- Job 12:14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
- Eccl 3:14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
- Num 23:19–20God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
- Ps 135:6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
- Isa 14:24–27The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
- Jas 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- Eccl 1:15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
- Job 9:12–13Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
- Job 34:29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
- Eph 1:9–11Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
- Rom 9:19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
- Job 11:10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 23:13 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.