Job 9 · Verse 3

Job 9:3

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
Job 9:3, King James Version

Job 9:3 in other translations

BSBIf one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
WEBIf he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
ASVIf he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
YLTIf he delight to strive with Him--He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
DARBYIf he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
BBEIf a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
WebsterIf he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

What does Job 9:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. If he--God will contend with him--literally, "deign to enter into judgment." he cannot answer, &c.--He (man) would not dare, even if he had a thousand answers in readiness to one question of God's, to utter one of them, from awe of His Majesty.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 If he will contend with him - God is so holy, and his law so strict, that if he will enter into judgment with his creatures, the most upright of them cannot be justified in his sight. One of a thousand - Of a thousand offenses of which he may be accused he cannot vindicate himself even in one. How little that any man does, even in the way of righteousness, truth, and mercy, can stand the penetrating eye of a just and holy God, when all motives, feelings, and objects, come to be scrutinized in his sight, on this ground, no man living can be justified. O, how necessary to fallen, weak, miserable, imperfect and sinful man, is the doctrine of justification by faith, and sanctification through the Divine Spirit, by the sacrificial death and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ!

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 9:3 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
יַ֭חְפֹּץYach.potzsomeone desiresH2654
לָרִ֣יבla.Rivto conduct a caseH7378
עִמּ֑וֹi.Mowith himH5973
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּya.'a.Ne.nuhe will answer himH6030
אַחַ֥ת'a.Chatone [time]H259
מִנִּי\־mi.ni-fromH4480
אָֽלֶף\׃'A.lefa thousandH505

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

Cross references for Job 9:3

  • Job 10:2

    I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

  • Job 40:2

    Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

  • 1 John 3:20

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

  • 1 John 1:8

    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  • Psalms 19:12

    Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

  • Romans 9:20

    Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

  • 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.

  • Psalms 40:12

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

  • Job 33:13

    Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

  • Job 23:3-7

    Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. …

  • Job 31:35-37

    Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

  • Isaiah 57:15-16

    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he will contend.
20,32,33; 10:2; 23:3-7; 31:35-37; 33:13; 34:14,15; 40:2
Isa 57:15,16; Ro 9:20
he cannot.
Ps 19:12; 40:12; 1Jo 1:8; 3:20

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Job 9:4

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

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si quisiere contender con él, no le podrá responder á una cosa de mil.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		S’il se plaît à contester avec lui, il ne lui répondra pas sur un point entre mille.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn er Lust hat, mit ihm zu rechten, so kann er ihm auf tausend nicht eins antworten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si voluerit contendere cum eo, non poterit ei respondere unum pro mille.