Job 9 · Verse 21

Job 9:21

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Job 9:21, King James Version

Job 9:21 in other translations

BSBThough I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
WEBI am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
ASVI am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
YLTPerfect I am! --I know not my soul, I despise my life.
DARBYWere I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
BBEI have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
WebsterThough I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

What does Job 9:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. Literally, here (and in Job 9:20), "I perfect! I should not know my soul! I would despise," [that is], "disown my life"; that is, Though conscious of innocence, I should be compelled, in contending with the infinite God, to ignore my own soul and despise my past life as if it were guilty [Rosenmuller].

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Though I were perfect - Had I the fullest conviction that, in every thought, word, and deed, I were blameless before him, yet I would not plead this; nor would I think it any security for a life of ease and prosperity, or any proof that my days should be prolonged.

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 9:21 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.

תָּֽם\־tam-[am] blamelessH8535
אָ֭נִי'A.niIH589
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
אֵדַ֥ע'e.Da'I knowH3045
נַפְשִׁ֗יnaf.Shiself myH5315
אֶמְאַ֥ס'em.'AsI rejectH3988
חַיָּֽי\׃chai.Yailife myH2416

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

Cross references for Job 9:21

  • Job 1:1

    There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

  • Psalms 139:23-24

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:4

    For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

  • Job 7:21

    And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

  • Proverbs 28:26

    He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

  • Jeremiah 17:9-10

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

  • Job 7:15-16

    So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

  • 1 John 3:20

    For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
yet would.
Ps 139:23,24; Pr 28:26; Jer 17:9,10; 1Co 4:4; 1Jo 3:20
I would.
7:15,16,21

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Job 9:21

    Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

  • Job 9:22

    This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Bien que yo fuese íntegro, no conozco mi alma: reprocharé mi vida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si j’étais parfait, je méconnaîtrais mon âme, je mépriserais ma vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Vollkommen bin ich; nicht kümmert mich meine Seele, ich verachte mein Leben; es ist eins!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Etiam si simplex fuero, hoc ipsum ignorabit anima mea, et tædebit me vitæ meæ.