I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.
Parallel translations
- KJV I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
- BSB I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
- NKJV I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.
- NASB “I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince, I would approach Him.
- NLT For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.
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 says he would give God an account of his every step and approach him like a prince. He would come before God with confidence and dignity.
Overview
Job pictures himself reporting all his conduct to God and drawing near with the bearing of a prince rather than a culprit. This expresses his confidence that an honest accounting would clear him. Though such boldness must be tempered by humility before the Almighty, the gospel grants believers a true confidence to draw near to God's throne, not through their own merit but through Christ, who gives access with boldness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Job 13:15Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
- Eph 3:12in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
- Heb 4:15–16For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
- Ps 19:12Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,
- Gen 32:28He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- Job 42:3–6You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
- Job 9:3If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
- Job 29:25I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
- Job 14:16But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
- Job 1:3His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
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 31:37 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.