I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
Parallel translations
- WEB I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to 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 13:15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
- Eph 3:12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
- Heb 4:15–16For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Ps 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
- Gen 32:28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
- Job 42:3–6Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
- Job 9:3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
- Job 29:25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
- Job 14:16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
- Job 1:3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men 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.