Job 23 · Verse 13

Job 23:13

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:13, King James Version

Job 23:13 in other translations

BSBBut He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
WEBBut he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
ASVBut he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
YLTAnd He is in one mind, And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired--and He doth it.
DARBYBut he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
BBEBut his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.
WebsterBut he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

What does Job 23:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. in one mind--notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12). soul--His will (Psa 115:3). God's sovereignty. He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 23:13-17
As Job does not once question but that his trials are from the hand of God, and that there is no such thing as chance, how does he account for them? The principle on which he views them is, that the hope and reward of the faithful servants of God are only laid up in another life; and he maintains that it is plain to all, that the wicked are not treated according to their deserts in this life, but often directly the reverse. But though the obtaining of mercy, the first-fruits of the Spirit of grace, pledges a God, who will certainly finish the work which he has began; yet the afflicted believer is not to conclude that all prayer and entreaty will be in vain, and that he should sink into despair, and faint when he is reproved of Him. He cannot tell but the intention of God in afflicting him may be to produce penitence and prayer in his heart. May we learn to obey and trust the Lord, even in tribulation; to live or die as he pleases: we know not for what good ends our lives may be shortened or prolonged.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 23:13 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.

וְה֣וּאve.Hu'and heH1931
בְ֭אֶחָדVe.'e.chod[is] <in> oneH259
וּמִ֣יu.Miand who?H4310
יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּye.shi.Ve.nuwill he turn back himH7725
וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹve.naf.Shoand [that which] self hisH5315
אִוְּתָ֣ה'i.ve.Tahit has desiredH183
וַיָּֽעַשׂ\׃vai.Ya.'asand he has doneH6213

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

Cross references for Job 23:13

  • Psalms 115:3

    But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

  • Proverbs 19:21

    There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

  • Isaiah 46:10

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Job 12:14

    Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:14

    I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

  • Numbers 23:19-20

    God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

  • Psalms 135:6

    Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

  • Isaiah 14:24-27

    The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:15

    That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

  • Job 9:12-13

    Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
who can.
9:12,13; 11:10; 12:14; 34:29; Nu 23:19,20; Ec 1:15; 3:14; Ro 9:19
Jas 1:17
and what.
Ps 115:3; 135:6; Pr 19:21; Isa 14:24-27; 46:10; Da 4:35; Eph 1:9-11

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

Context

  • Job 23:12

    Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

  • Job 23:13

    But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

  • Job 23:14

    For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Read all of Job 23

Job 23:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero si él se determina en una cosa, ¿quién lo apartará? Su alma deseó, é hizo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais lui, il a une pensée, et qui l’en fera revenir? Ce que son âme désire, il le fait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Doch er bleibt sich gleich, und wer kann seinen Sinn ändern? Was seine Seele begehrt, das tut er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem ejus: et anima ejus quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.