Job 9 · Verse 2

Job 9:2

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Job 9:2, King James Version

Job 9:2 in other translations

BSB“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
WEB“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
ASVOf a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
YLTTruly I have known that it is so, And what--is man righteous with God?
DARBYOf a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
BBETruly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
WebsterI know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

What does Job 9:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
FIRST SERIES.

Job 9:1-35. Reply of Job to Bildad.

2. I know it is so of a truth--that God does not "pervert justice" (Job 8:3). But (even though I be sure of being in the right) how can a mere man assert his right--(be just) with God. The Gospel answers (Ro 3:26).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 I know it is so of a truth - I acknowledge the general truth of the maxims you have advanced. God will not ultimately punish a righteous person, nor shall the wicked finally triumph; and though righteous before man, and truly sincere in my piety, yet I know, when compared with the immaculate holiness of God, all my righteousness is nothing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 9:1-13

In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with him in judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of all the thoughts, words, and actions of his life; therefore he deserved worse than all his present sufferings…

Read the full comment on Job 9:1-13 →

Job 9:2 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.

אָ֭מְנָם'A.me.nomtrulyH551
יָדַ֣עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI knowH3045
כִי\־khi-thatH3588
כֵ֑ןKhenthusH3651
וּמַה\־u.mah-and what?H4100
יִּצְדַּ֖קyitz.Dakwill he be justifiedH6663
אֱנ֣וֹשׁ'e.No.osha personH582
עִם\־'im-withH5973
אֵֽל\׃'ElGodH410

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

Cross references for Job 9:2

  • Job 4:17

    Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

  • Romans 3:20

    Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

  • Psalms 143:2

    And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

  • Job 25:4

    How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

  • 1 Kings 8:46

    If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

  • Job 14:3-4

    And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

  • Job 34:5

    For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

  • Job 32:2

    Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

  • Job 33:9

    I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

  • Psalms 130:3

    If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
how.
4:17; 14:3,4; 25:4; 32:2; 33:9; 34:5; 1Ki 8:46; Ps 130:3; 143:2
Ro 3:20
with. or, before.

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

Context

  • Job 9:1

    Then Job answered and said,

  • Job 9:2

    I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

  • Job 9:3

    If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Ciertamente yo conozco que es así: ¿y cómo se justificará el hombre con Dios?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
En vérité, je sais qu’il en est ainsi. Mais comment l’homme sera-t-il juste devant ✶Dieu?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wahrlich, ich weiß, daß es also ist; und wie könnte ein Mensch gerecht sein vor Gott?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Vere scio quod ita sit, et quod non justificetur homo compositus Deo.