Job 13 · Verse 3

Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
Job 13:3, King James Version

Job 13:3 in other translations

BSBYet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
WEB“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
ASVSurely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
YLTYet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
DARBYBut I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;
BBEBut I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
WebsterSurely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

What does Job 13:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Job wishes to plead his cause before God (Job 9:34, 35), as he is more and more convinced of the valueless character of his would-be "physicians" (Job 16:2).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty - אולם ulam, O that: - I wish I could speak to the Almighty! I desire to reason with God - He speaks here to reference to the proceedings in a court of justice. Ye pretend to be advocates for God, but ye are forgers of lies: O that God himself would appear! Before him I could soon prove my innocence of the evils with which ye charge me.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 13:1-12

With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to be taught by them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify themselves, and lower their brethren, more than is fit. When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we…

Read the full comment on Job 13:1-12 →

Job 13:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אוּלָ֗ם'u.LambutH199
אֲ֭נִי'A.niIH589
אֶל\־'el-toH413
שַׁדַּ֣יsha.Dai[the] AlmightyH7706
אֲדַבֵּ֑ר'a.da.BerI will speakH1696
וְהוֹכֵ֖חַve.ho.Khe.achand to argueH3198
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֵ֣ל'elGodH410
אֶחְפָּֽץ\׃'ech.PatzI desireH2654

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 13:3

  • Isaiah 41:21

    Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

  • Job 9:3

    If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

  • Isaiah 1:18-20

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

  • Job 13:22

    Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

  • Job 31:35

    Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

  • Job 11:5

    But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

  • Job 23:3-7

    Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. …

  • Job 9:34-35

    Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

  • Jeremiah 12:1-2

    Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

  • Job 13:15

    Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

  • Micah 6:2

    Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

  • Job 9:14-15

    How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Surely.
22; 9:34,35; 11:5; 23:3-7; 31:35
I desire.
9:3,14,15; Isa 1:18-20; 41:21; Jer 12:1,2; *marg:
Mic 6:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 13:2

    What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

  • Job 13:3

    Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

  • Job 13:4

    But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Read all of Job 13

Job 13:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas yo hablaría con el Todopoderoso, y querría razonar con Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais je parlerai au Tout-puissant, et mon plaisir sera de raisonner avec ✶Dieu;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Doch zu dem Allmächtigen will ich reden, und vor Gott mich zu rechtfertigen begehre ich;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed tamen ad Omnipotentem loquar, et disputare cum Deo cupio: