Job 23 14

Job 23:14 kjv

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Job 23:14 nkjv

For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.

Job 23:14 niv

He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store.

Job 23:14 esv

For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.

Job 23:14 nlt

So he will do to me whatever he has planned.
He controls my destiny.

Job 23 verses

Job 23 14 Meaning

Job 23:14 expresses Job's firm conviction that God will certainly carry out whatever specific decree or appointed destiny He has ordained for Job, and that his suffering is not an isolated event but one of an immeasurable number of such divine purposes known only to God. It underscores Job's troubled yet resolute faith in God's absolute, unchanging sovereignty and control over all things, including human destiny and affliction.

Job 23 14 Context

Job 23:14 is situated within Job's fourth speech (chapters 23-24) to his three friends. At this point in the book, Job is intensely distressed and desperately seeks an audience with God to present his case, believing he has been unjustly afflicted. He expresses his longing to find God (23:3-5) but acknowledges God's omnipresence and that He moves independently of Job's ability to locate Him (23:8-9). Despite his suffering and the inability to comprehend God's actions, Job affirms God's unyielding power and sovereign control over all things (23:10-13). This verse, specifically, is a pivot where Job resigns himself to God's ultimate will, affirming that his personal experience is part of God's predetermined and unchangeable plan. The broader historical and literary context of the book explores the problem of suffering righteousness, contrasting human attempts to understand divine justice with God's ultimate sovereignty.

Job 23 14 Word analysis

• For he performeth: The Hebrew word for "performeth" is עָשָׂה (asah), meaning "to do, to make, to accomplish, to bring about." This emphasizes divine agency, indicating that God is actively and precisely carrying out His will, not merely foreknowing it. It highlights God as the active executor of His plans.
• the thing that is appointed for me: The Hebrew phrase for "the thing that is appointed" is חֻקִּי (chuqqi), derived from choq, meaning a statute, decree, fixed portion, or ordinance. This term denotes something prescribed or ordained by authority, pointing to a divinely predetermined lot or destiny specifically for Job. It signifies that Job's experiences, particularly his suffering, are not random or accidental but part of a specific, unchangeable divine decree concerning his life.
• for me: This makes the divine decree deeply personal for Job, indicating that his individual life circumstances and afflictions are encompassed within God's comprehensive and pre-ordained plan.
• and many such things: This phrase extends the scope beyond Job's immediate experience. It implies that God's single, specific decree for Job is one among an immeasurable, uncountable number of similar divine decrees or purposes. It suggests a vast, mysterious repository of divine plans that govern countless aspects of creation and destiny, largely unknown to humanity.
• are with him: This denotes that these myriad divine purposes reside fully in God's counsel, within His control, knowledge, and sovereignty. They are part of His infinite wisdom and are executed according to His will. This phrase conveys the hiddenness and vastness of God's plans, underscoring that the full scope of God's work remains within His own divine presence and authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis data:

• "For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me": This phrase underlines Job's deep theological understanding that God is not only all-powerful but also meticulously active in executing His decrees for individual lives. Despite the apparent injustice he feels, Job attributes his specific circumstances to a personal, divine ordination, showcasing his profound acknowledgment of God's detailed providence even in adversity.
• "and many such things are with him": This clause highlights the immensity and incomprehensibility of God's overall plan. Job recognizes that his situation is not an isolated event but merely a single manifestation of God's numerous, untold decrees. This implies that while Job endures a specific trial, he recognizes that God has an infinitely larger blueprint for the cosmos, transcending human understanding and encompassing countless individuals and events.

Job 23 14 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates the tension between human experience of suffering and the theological truth of God's unwavering sovereignty. Job clings to a foundational tenet of biblical faith: God's plans are eternal, immutable, and meticulously carried out, regardless of human suffering or comprehension. It counters any perception of God as fickle or limited, instead presenting Him as the orchestrator of all events, even the difficult ones. This deep theological insight helps maintain Job's relationship with God, even as he struggles to reconcile His justice with his affliction, thereby distinguishing his faith from the shallow theology of his friends who demand a direct correlation between sin and suffering.

Job 23 14 Commentary

Job 23:14 reveals a profound theological paradox at the heart of Job's suffering. Despite his intense pain, deep confusion, and yearning for justice, Job remains anchored in an unshaken belief in God's absolute sovereignty. He understands that his excruciating experience is not capricious or random but rather an "appointed thing," a specific, predetermined decree from God for him. This implies a fixed and unchangeable divine will. Furthermore, Job recognizes that this specific "appointment" for him is merely one among "many such things" that are part of God's infinite and unfathomable plans. This acceptance of divine decrees, even when they bring severe trials and remain largely mysterious, is a cornerstone of Job's resilient faith. It offers a framework for understanding that our trials, though painful, fit into a larger, purposeful divine design that we may not fully comprehend in the moment. It emphasizes reliance on God's character and omnipotence rather than a full understanding of His immediate ways.