Job 16 · Verse 21

Job 16:21

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
Job 16:21, King James Version

Job 16:21 in other translations

BSBOh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
WEBthat he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
ASVThat he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
YLTAnd he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.
DARBYOh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
BBESo that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.
WebsterO that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!

What does Job 16:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. one--rather, "He" (God). "Oh, that He would plead for a man (namely, me) against God." Job quaintly says, "God must support me against God; for He makes me to suffer, and He alone knows me to be innocent" [Umbreit]. So God helped Jacob in wrestling against Himself (compare Job 23:6; Ge 32:25). God in Jesus Christ does plead with God for man (Ro 8:26, 27). as a man--literally, "the Son of man." A prefiguring of the advocacy of Jesus Christ--a boon longed for by Job (Job 9:33), though the spiritual pregnancy of his own words, designed for all ages, was but little understood by him (Psa 80:17). for his neighbour--Hebrew, "friend." Job himself (Job 42:8) pleaded as intercessor for his "friends," though "his scorners" (Job 16:20); so Jesus Christ the Son of man (Lu 23:34); "for friends" (Joh 15:13-15).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 O that one might plead - Let me only have liberty to plead with God, as a man hath with his fellow.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 16:17-22

Job's condition was very deplorable; but he had the testimony of his conscience for him, that he never allowed himself in any gross sin. No one was ever more ready to acknowledge sins of infirmity. Eliphaz had charged him with hypocrisy in religion, but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in this he was pure, though not from all infirmity. He had a God to go to, who he doubted not took…

Read the full comment on Job 16:17-22 →

Job 16:21 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.

וְיוֹכַ֣חve.yo.Khachand he may argueH3198
לְגֶ֣בֶרle.Ge.verfor a manH1397
עִם\־'im-withH5973
אֱל֑וֹהַּ'e.Lo.ahGodH433
וּֽבֶן\־u.ven-and a child ofH1121
אָדָ֥ם'a.DamhumankindH120
לְרֵעֵֽהוּ\׃le.re.'E.hufor companion hisH7453

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

Cross references for Job 16:21

  • Ecclesiastes 6:10

    That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

  • Romans 9:20

    Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

  • Job 40:1-5

    Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. …

  • 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 13:22

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

  • Job 13:3

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

  • 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. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
plead.
9:34,35; 13:3,22; 23:3-7; 31:35; 40:1-5; Ec 6:10; Isa 45:9; Ro 9:20
neighbour. or, friend.

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

Context

  • Job 16:20

    My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

  • Job 16:21

    O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

  • Job 16:22

    When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Read all of Job 16

Job 16:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¡Ojalá pudiese disputar el hombre con Dios, como con su prójimo!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que n’y a-t-il un arbitre pour l’homme auprès de ✝Dieu, et pour un fils d’homme vis-à-vis de son ami!
German
Elberfelder 1871		daß er schiedsrichterlich entscheide Gott gegenüber für einen Mann, und für einen Menschensohn hinsichtlich seines Freundes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Verbosi amici mei: ad Deum stillat oculus meus: