Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
- BSB Nor is there a mediator between us, to 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 one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
- 1 Jn 2:1–2My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Job 9:19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
- Ps 106:23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
- 1 Kgs 3:16–28Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto 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.