Job 23 · Verse 8

Job 23:8

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Job 23:8, King James Version

Job 23:8 in other translations

BSB	If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
WEB	“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.
ASV	Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;
YLT	Lo, forward I go--and He is not, And backward--and I perceive him not.
DARBY	Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
BBE	See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;
Webster	Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

What does Job 23:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. But I wish in vain. For "behold," &c. forward ... backward--rather, "to the east--to the west." The Hebrew geographers faced the east, that is, sunrise: not the north, as we do. So "before" means east: "behind," west (so the Hindus). Para, "before"--east: Apara, "behind"--west: Daschina, "the right hand"--south: Bama, "left"--north. A similar reference to sunrise appears in the name Asia, "sunrise," Europe, "sunset"; pure Babylonian names, as Rawlinson shows.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 Behold, I go forward - These two verses paint in vivid colors the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favor of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 23:8-12

Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had relished and delighted in the truths and commandments of God. Here we should notice that Job justified himself rather than God, or in opposition to him, ch. 32:2. Job might feel that he was clear from the charges of his friends, but boldly to assert that, though visited by the hand of God, it was not a chastisement of sin, was his error. And he is guilty of a second, when he denies that there are dealings of Providence with men in this present life, wherein the injured find redress, and the evil are visited for their sins.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 23:8 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.

הֵ֤ןhenhere!H2005

קֶ֣דֶםKe.demforwardH6924

אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ'e.he.LokhI goH1980

וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּve.'ei.Ne.nuand there not [is] heH369

וְ֝אָח֗וֹרve.'a.Chorand backwardsH268

וְֽלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808

אָבִ֥ין'a.VinI perceiveH995

לֽוֹ\׃lo<to> him

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

Cross references for Job 23:8

Psalms 10:1
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Job 9:11
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Job 35:14
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
1 Timothy 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Psalms 13:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Isaiah 45:15
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

9:11; Ps 10:1; 13:1-3; Isa 45:15; 1Ti 6:16

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

Context

Job 23:7
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
Job 23:8
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
Job 23:9
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Read all of Job 23

Job 23:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	He aquí yo iré al oriente, y no lo hallaré; y al occidente, y no lo percibiré:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Voici, je vais en avant, mais il n’y est pas; et en arrière, mais je ne l’aperçois pas;
German Elberfelder 1871	Siehe, gehe ich vorwärts, so ist er nicht da; und rückwärts, so bemerke ich ihn nicht;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Si ad orientem iero, non apparet; si ad occidentem, non intelligam eum.