Job 23:13
in Job 23But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
KJV
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
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This verse in Job 23
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But he is in one mind - He is unchangeable. He has formed his plans, and no one can divert him from them. Of the truth of this sentiment there can be no dispute. The only difficulty in the case is to see why Job adverted to it here, and how it bears on the train of thought which he was pursuing.
This site's exposition
But He is unchangeable
on Job 23:13-14
The chapter turns from Job's record to the will he cannot move: "But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him". "He does what He desires" reaches Job's case, "For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans". The decree will not bend to argument.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
To the objection that this proof which he introduced on the basis of the righteousness of his life is not fitting, he shows as a consequence that the most certain and demonstrative proof cannot be introduced about divine judgments because of the incomprehensibility of the …
But He is Himself alone, and no man can turn away His thought. And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth. Are there not angels and men, the heavens and the earth, the air and the waters of the ocean, all the winged creatures, quadrupeds, and creeping things? And surely it is written, Which God created that they should be. Whereas then there is such a multitude of things in the circle of nature, wherefore is it now said by the voice of the blessed man, He is Himself alone?
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The fear of the Lord arises in us from the consideration of the perspicacity of divine wisdom. Whence Job: "For he alone is, and no one can turn away his thoughts. And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him, I …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Prayer has prevailed to change God's way and his providence, but never was his will or purpose changed; for known unto God are all his works. That his power is irresistible: What his soul desires or designs even that he does, and nothing can stand in his way or put him upon new counsels.
But he is in one mind,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
in one mind--notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12). soul--His will (Ps 115:3). He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
IT is very advantageous to the Christian mind frequently to consider the deep and unsearchable attributes of God. The beneficial effect is palpable in two ways, exerting a sacred influence both on the judgment and the heart. In respect to the one, it tends to confirm us in those good old orthodox doctrines which lie at the basis of our faith. If we study man, and make him the only object of our research, there will be a strong tendency in our minds to exaggerate his importance.
IT is very advantageous to the Christian mind frequently to consider the deep and unsearchable attributes of God. The beneficial effect is palpable in two ways, exerting a sacred influence both on the judgment and the heart. In respect to the one, it tends to confirm us in those good old orthodox doctrines which lie at the basis of our faith. If we study man, and make him the only object of our research, there will be a strong tendency in our minds to exaggerate his importance. We shall think too much of the creature and too little of the Creator, preferring that knowledge which is to be found out by observation and reason to that divine truth which revelation alone could make known to us. The basis and groundwork of Arminian theology lies in attaching undue importance to man, and giving God rather the second place than the first. Let your mind dwell for a long time upon man as a free agent, upon man as a responsible being, upon man, not so much as being under God’s claims as having claims upon God, and you will soon find upspringing in your thoughts a set of crude doctrines, to support which the letter of some few isolated texts in Scripture may be speciously quoted, but which really in spirit are contrary to the whole tenour of the Word of God. Thus your orthodoxy will be shaken to its very foundations, and your soul will be driven out to sea again without peace or joy. Brethren, I am not afraid that any man, who thinks worthily about the Creator, stands in awe of his adorable perfections and sees him sitting upon the throne, doing all things according to the counsel of his will, will go far wrong in his doctrinal sentiments. He may say, “My heart is fixed, O God;” and when the heart is fixed with a firm conviction of the greatness, the omnipotence, the divinity indeed of him whom we call God, the head will not wander far from truth.
But he is in one mind - The original is והוא באחד vehu beechad, and is literally, But he is in one: properly rendered by the Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone. And not badly rendered by Coverdale - It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot prevent its accomplishment.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
But He Since He is One in the world and knows the knowledge and the thoughts of the creatures, and what they have to reply to Him, therefore replies are prepared before Him.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
For He will complete my sentence I know that He will not draw back His hand until He completes the sentence of His decrees, the retribution that He has decreed against me.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְה֣וּא | vehu' | and he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| בְ֭אֶחָד | veechod | [is] <in> one | H259 → | 971 times |
| וּמִ֣י | umi | and who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ | yeshivenu | will he turn back him | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ | venafsho | and [that which] self his | H5315 → | 754 times |
| אִוְּתָ֣ה | ʾivetah | it has desired | H183 → | |
| וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃ | vaiyaas | and he has done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
וְה֣וּאand he
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
בְ֭אֶחָד[is] <in> one
veechodH259 →971 times
וּמִ֣יand who?
umiH4310 →423 times
יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּwill he turn back him
yeshivenuH7725 →1056 times
וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹand [that which] self his
venafshoH5315 →754 times
אִוְּתָ֣הit has desired
ʾivetahH183 →
וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃and he has done
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 14:24
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.
- Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
- Psalms 33:10–11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
- Proverbs 16:9
Through
Psalms 115:3Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
it leads to
- Psalms 135:6
The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 135:6
Through
Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Psalms 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
- Proverbs 19:21
Where this verse is studied
About Job

This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 406: “The Infallibility of God's Purpose” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.
