But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
- KJV But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
- 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.
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 does whatever he pleases.
- Prov 19:21There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
- Dan 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.
- Job 12:14Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
- Eccl 3:14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
- Num 23:19–20God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?
- Ps 135:6Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
- Isa 14:24–27Yahweh of Armies has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
- Jas 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
- Eccl 1:15That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
- Job 9:12–13Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
- Job 34:29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,
- Eph 1:9–11making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
- Rom 9:19You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?”
- Job 11:10If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.