Read the Bible — American Standard Version · Job

Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Cross references & Strong's
Cross references (TSK): Job 3:2
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Then Job H347 (אִיּוֹב) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience
  • answered H6030 (עָנָה) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, a…
  • and said H559 (אָמַר) — to say (used with great latitude)

2 Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Even to day H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
  • my complaint H7879 (שִׂיחַ) — a contemplation; by implication, an utterance
  • bitter H4805 (מְרִי) — bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious
  • my stroke H3027 (יָד) — a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of a…
  • is heavier H3513 (כָּבַד) — to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses…
  • than my groaning H585 (אֲנָחָה) — sighing

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Oh that H5414 (נָתַן) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
  • I knew H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
  • where I might find H4672 (מָצָא) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
  • I might come H935 (בּוֹא) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
  • to his seat H8499 (תְּכוּנָה) — something arranged or fixed, i.e. a place

4 I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • I would order H6186 (עָרַךְ) — to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
  • cause H4941 (מִשְׁפָּט) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or…
  • before H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • him, and fill H4390 (מָלֵא) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
  • my mouth H6310 (פֶּה) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) acc…
  • with arguments H8433 (תּוֹכֵחָה) — chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

Cross references & Strong's
Cross references (TSK): Job 10:2 · Job 13:22 · Job 42:2 · 1 Corinthians 4:3
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • I would know H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
  • the words H4405 (מִלָּה) — a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic
  • he would answer H6030 (עָנָה) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, a…
  • me, and understand H995 (בִּין) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
  • what he would say H559 (אָמַר) — to say (used with great latitude)

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Will he plead H7378 (רִיב) — properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend
  • against H5978 (עִמָּד) — along with
  • great H7230 (רֹב) — abundance (in any respect)
  • power H3581 (כֹּחַ) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard
  • No; but he would put H7760 (שׂוּם) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

7 There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • There the righteous H3477 (יָשָׁר) — straight (literally or figuratively)
  • might dispute H3198 (יָכַח) — to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
  • with him; so should I be delivered H6403 (פָּלַט) — to slip out, i.e. escape; causatively, to deliver
  • for ever H5331 (נֶצַח) — properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confi…
  • from my judge H8199 (שָׁפַט) — to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figur…

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Behold, I go H1980 (הָלַךְ) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
  • forward H6924 (קֶדֶם) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
  • and backward H268 (אָחוֹר) — the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West
  • but I cannot perceive H995 (בִּין) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand

9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

Cross references & Strong's
Cross references (TSK): Job 9:11 · Job 10:13 · Job 34:29 · Psalms 89:46 · Isaiah 8:17 · Isaiah 45:15
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • On the left hand H8040 (שְׂמֹאול) — properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand
  • where he doth work H6213 (עָשָׂה) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
  • but I cannot behold H2372 (חָזָה) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
  • he hideth H5848 (עָטַף) — to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish
  • himself on the right hand H3225 (יָמִין) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
  • that I cannot see H7200 (רָאָה) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

10 But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • But he knoweth H3045 (יָדַע) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation…
  • the way H1870 (דֶּרֶךְ) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
  • that I take H5978 (עִמָּד) — along with
  • he hath tried H974 (בָּחַן) — to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate
  • me, I shall come forth H3318 (יָצָא) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
  • as gold H2091 (זָהָב) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky

11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • My foot H7272 (רֶגֶל) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
  • hath held H270 (אָחַז) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
  • his steps H838 (אָשֻׁר) — a step
  • his way H1870 (דֶּרֶךְ) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
  • have I kept H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
  • and not declined H5186 (נָטָה) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Neither have I gone back H4185 (מוּשׁ) — to withdraw (both literally and figuratively, whether intransitive or transitive)
  • from the commandment H4687 (מִצְוָה) — a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
  • of his lips H8193 (שָׂפָה) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
  • I have esteemed H6845 (צָפַן) — to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk
  • the words H561 (אֵמֶר) — something said
  • of his mouth H6310 (פֶּה) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) acc…
  • more than my necessary H2706 (חֹק) — an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • in one H259 (אֶחָד) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
  • and who can turn H7725 (שׁוּב) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally…
  • his soul H5315 (נֶפֶשׁ) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
  • desireth H183 (אָוָה) — to wish for
  • he doeth H6213 (עָשָׂה) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • For he performeth H7999 (שָׁלַם) — to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in variou…
  • appointed H2706 (חֹק) — an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
  • for me: and many H7227 (רַב) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
  • such H2007 (הֵנָּה) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)

15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

Cross references & Strong's
Cross references (TSK): Job 10:15 · Job 23:3 · Job 31:23 · Psalms 77:3 · Psalms 119:120 · Habakkuk 3:16
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Therefore am I troubled H926 (בָּהַל) — to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously
  • at his presence H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • when I consider H995 (בִּין) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
  • I am afraid H6342 (פָּחַד) — to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general

16 For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • For God H410 (אֵל) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
  • maketh my heart H3820 (לֵב) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
  • soft H7401 (רָכַךְ) — to soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively
  • and the Almighty H7706 (שַׁדַּי) — the Almighty
  • troubleth H926 (בָּהַל) — to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

Cross references & Strong's
Cross references (TSK): 2 Kings 22:20 · Job 6:9 · Job 15:22 · Job 18:6 · Job 18:18 · Job 19:8 · Job 22:11 · Isaiah 57:1
Strong's numbers (from RLT):
  • Because I was not cut off H6789 (צָמַת) — to extirpate (literally or figuratively)
  • before H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…
  • the darkness H2822 (חֹשֶׁךְ) — the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
  • hath he covered H3680 (כָּסָה) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
  • the darkness H652 (אֹפֶל) — dusk
  • from my face H6440 (פָּנִים) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (befo…