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Job 9:35

in Job 9

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.

KJV

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

This verse in Job 9

Commentary

9 notes on this verse
Then would I speak, and not fear Him. For the holy man, because he beholds the Redeemer of the world coming in meekness, does not assume fear towards a Master, but affection towards a Father. And he looks down on fear, in that through the grace of adoption he rises up to love. Hence John says; There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. Hence Zachariah says, That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear.

This site's exposition

For He is not a man like me

on Job 9:32-35

"For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him" states the imbalance, an opponent Job cannot meet at law. "Nor is there a mediator between us" is the first rung of a ladder the book climbs again at 16:19 and 19:25.

This site's exposition

Then I would speak without fear of Him

Then Job would speak without fear. Barnes gives the margin's reading that Job is not himself, and Coverdale rendered that while fear lasts he can make no answer, as Clarke reports. The Berean reads it as a man on his own.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Job · Written before 1274.

proposed

Therefore, I will be able to investigate and so he continues, "I will speak and not be afraid of him," i.e. not being frightened by him. "Nor can I answer when I am afraid of him," i.e. when I hold myself back from investigating something …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Then - I would speak freely for myself, being freed from that dread, which takes away my spirit and courage. It is not - I am not free from his terror, and therefore cannot plead my cause with him.
Then would I speak, and not fear him,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

"Let that be removed; let me recover the sight of his mercy, and not be amazed with the sight of nothing but his terrors, and then I would speak and order my cause before him. But it is not so with me; the cloud is not at all dissipated; the wrath of God still fastens upon me, and preys on my spirits, as much as ever; and what to do I know not." 2.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Then would I speak, and not fear him - I should then be able to maintain my cause on equal terms, and with equal advantages. But it is not so with me - Margin, I am not so with myself. Noyes, “I am not so at heart.” Good, “but not thus could I in my present state.” Literally, “for not thus I with myself.” The Syriac renders it, “for neither am I his adversary.” Very various interpretations have been given of this phrase.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

But it is not so with me - I am not in such circumstances as to plead with my Judge. I believe the sense of these words is nearly as Coverdale has expressed it: - For as longe as I am in soch fearfulnesse, I can make no answere. A natural picture of the state of a penitent soul, which needs no additional coloring. On the names of the constellations mentioned Job 9:9, and again Job 38:31, etc., much has been written, and to little effect. I have already, in the notes, expressed my doubts whether any constellation be intended. Dr. Hales, however, finds in these names, as he thinks, astronomical data, by which he ascertains the time of Job. I shall give his words: - “The cardinal constellations of spring and autumn, in Job’s time, were Chimah, and Chesil or Taurus, and Scorpio; noticed Job 9:9, and again, Job 38:31, Job 38:32; of which the principal stars are, Aldebaran, the bull’s eye, and Antares, the scorpion’s heart. Knowing, therefore, the longitudes of these stars, at present, the interval of time from thence to the assumed date of Job’s trial will give the difference of the longitudes; and ascertain their positions then, with respect to the vernal and autumnal points of intersection of the equinoctial and ecliptic; according to the usual rate of the precession of the equinoxes, one degree in 71 years. See that article, vol. i. p. 185. “The following calculations I owe to the kindness and skill of the respectable Dr. Brinkley, Andrew’s Professor of Astronomy in the University of Dublin. “In a.d. 1800 Aldebaran was in 2 signs, 7 degrees, east longitude. But since the date of Job’s trial, b.c. […]

The words behind it

8 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • אַֽ֭דַבְּרָהI will speak

    ʾadaberahH1696 →1141 times

  • וְלֹ֣אand not

    velo'H3808 →5168 times

  • אִירָאֶ֑נּוּI will fear him

    ʾiraenuH3372 →315 times

  • כִּ֥יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • לֹא־not

    lo'-H3808 →5168 times

  • כֵ֥ן[am] thus

    khenH3651 →771 times

  • אָ֝נֹכִ֗יI

    ʾanokhiH595 →359 times

  • עִמָּדִֽי׃with myself

    ʾimadiH5978 →42 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Where this verse is studied

About Job

Job Hears of His Misfortunes, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Job Hears of His Misfortunes, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
This page draws on 10 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; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book IX; Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.