For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
- BSB For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
- 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 9:20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
- Eccl 6:10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
- Ps 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
- Num 23:19God 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?
- Isa 45:9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
- Job 23:3–7Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
- Job 35:5–7Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
- Job 33:12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
- 1 Jn 3:20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
- 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- Jer 49:19Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
- Job 13:18–23Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
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 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.