Job 9 · Verse 19

Job 9:19

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
Job 9:19, King James Version

Job 9:19 in other translations

BSBIf it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
WEBIf it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
ASVIf we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?
YLTIf of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment--who doth convene me?
DARBYBe it a question of strength, lo, he is strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
BBEIf it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
WebsterIf I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

What does Job 9:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Umbreit takes these as the words of God, translating, "What availeth the might of the strong?" "Here (saith he) behold! what availeth justice? Who will appoint me a time to plead?" (So Jr 49:19). The last words certainly apply better to God than to Job. The sense is substantially the same if we make "me" apply to Job. The "lo!" expresses God's swift readiness for battle when challenged.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - Human wisdom, power, and influence avail nothing before him. Who shall set me a time - מי יועידני mi yoideni, "Who would be a witness for me?" or, Who would dare to appear in my behalf? Almost all the terms in this part of the speech of Job, Job 9:11-24, are forensic or juridical, and are taken from legal processes and pleadings in their gates or courts of justice.

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 9:19 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
לְכֹ֣חַle.Kho.achto powerH3581
אַמִּ֣יץ'a.Mitza strong [one]H533
הִנֵּ֑הhi.Nehthere!H2009
וְאִם\־ve.'im-and ifH518
לְ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗טle.mish.Patto justiceH4941
מִ֣יmiwho?H4310
יוֹעִידֵֽנִי\׃yo.'i.De.niwill he summon meH3259

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

Cross references for Job 9:19

  • Job 9:32-33

    For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

  • Job 9:4

    He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

  • 1 Corinthians 1:25

    Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

  • Job 40:9-10

    Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

  • Matthew 6:13

    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 62:11

    God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

  • Job 33:5-7

    If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

  • Job 36:17-19

    But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:22

    Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he is strong.
4; 36:17-19; 40:9,10; Ps 62:11; Mt 6:13; 1Co 1:25; 10:22
who shall.
32,33; 31:35; 33:5-7

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

Context

  • Job 9:18

    He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

  • Job 9:19

    If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

  • Job 9:20

    If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si habláremos de su potencia, fuerte por cierto es; si de juicio, ¿quién me emplazará?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		S’agit-il de force, voici, il est fort; s’agit-il de jugement: Qui m’assignera?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn es auf Kraft des Starken ankommt, so sagt er: "Siehe hier!" und wenn auf Recht: -"Wer will mich vorladen?"
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si fortitudo quæritur, robustissimus est; si æquitas judicii, nemo audet pro me testimonium dicere.