For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
- KJV For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
- NKJV “For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together.
- NASB “For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him— That we may go to court together!
- NLT “God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
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 realizes God is not a mere man whom he could meet as an equal in court. It exposes the infinite gap between the creature and his Creator.
Overview
Job recognizes that God is not on his level, so summoning Him to mutual judgment is impossible. This honest confession of God's transcendence sets up his yearning for a mediator in the next verse. The gospel meets that need precisely, for the one Mediator, Christ Jesus, is both truly God and truly man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 9:20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
- Eccl 6:10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
- Ps 143:2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
- Num 23:19God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- Isa 45:9Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
- Job 23:3–7If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
- Job 35:5–7Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.
- Job 33:12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
- 1 Jn 3:20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
- 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
- Jer 49:19Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
- Job 13:18–23Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
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 9:32 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.