Job 9 · Verse 16

Job 9:16

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Job 9:16, King James Version

Job 9:16 in other translations

BSBIf I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
WEBIf I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
ASVIf I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
YLTThough I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear to my voice.
DARBYIf I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
BBEIf I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
WebsterIf I had called, and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.

What does Job 9:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 9:16-17
16-17. would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice--who breaketh me (as a tree stripped of its leaves) with a tempest.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 If I had called, and he had answered - I could scarcely suppose, such is his majesty and such his holiness, that he could condescend to notice a being so mean, and in every respect so infinitely beneath his notice. These sentiments sufficiently confuted that slander of his friends, who said he was presumptuous, had not becoming notions of the majesty of God, and used blasphemous expressions against his sovereign authority.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 9:14-21

Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. 32:1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is…

Read the full comment on Job 9:14-21 →

Job 9:16 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.

אִם\־'im-ifH518
קָרָ֥אתִיka.Ra.tiI calledH7121
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִיvai.ya.'a.Ne.niand he answered meH6030
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
אַ֝אֲמִ֗ין'a.'a.MinI believeH539
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
יַאֲזִ֥יןya.'a.Zinhe gave ear toH238
קוֹלִֽי\׃ko.Livoice myH6963

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

Cross references for Job 9:16

  • Exodus 6:9

    And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

  • Psalms 66:18-20

    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

  • Luke 24:41

    And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

  • Job 29:24

    If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

  • Psalms 18:6

    In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

  • Judges 6:13

    And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

  • Acts 12:14-16

    And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

  • Psalms 126:1

    A Song of degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

  • Psalms 116:1-2

    I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
If I had.
Ps 18:6; 66:18-20; 116:1,2
would I.
29:24; Ex 6:9; Jud 6:13; Ps 126:1; Lu 24:41; Ac 12:14-16

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

Context

  • Job 9:15

    Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

  • Job 9:16

    If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

  • Job 9:17

    For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que si yo le invocase, y él me respondiese, aun no creeré que haya escuchado mi voz.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si je criais, et qu’il me réponde, je ne croirais pas qu’il ait prêté l’oreille à ma voix, –
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ich riefe, und er mir antwortete, nicht würde ich glauben, daß er meiner Stimme Gehör schenken würde:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum invocantem exaudierit me, non credo quod audierit vocem meam.