Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
- KJV Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
- NKJV Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.
- NASB “There is no arbitrator between us, Who can place his hand upon us both.
- NLT If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.
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 longs for an umpire or arbiter who could lay a hand on both God and himself. It is one of Scripture's deepest cries for a mediator.
Overview
Job wishes for a daysman able to stand between him and God and reconcile them, yet he sees none. His ache for such a figure is famously answered in Jesus Christ, the Mediator who touches both God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6). What Job could only long for, the gospel supplies.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Sam 2:25If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.
- 1 Jn 2:1–2My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
- Job 9:19If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
- Ps 106:23So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.
- 1 Kgs 3:16–28At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
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 9:33 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.