Job 23 5

Job 23:5 kjv

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

Job 23:5 nkjv

I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

Job 23:5 niv

I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me.

Job 23:5 esv

I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.

Job 23:5 nlt

Then I would listen to his reply
and understand what he says to me.

Job 23 verses

Job 23 5 Meaning

Job chapter 23, verse 5 expresses Job's fervent and desperate desire for direct communication with God. He longs for God to speak to him directly, to provide specific answers, and to explain the reasons for his immense suffering. It signifies Job's profound spiritual longing for clarity, understanding, and vindication from the Almighty in his unexplainable ordeal.

Job 23 5 Context

Job 23 is part of Job's third discourse, specifically his third reply to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. After suffering immensely, Job has endured lengthy arguments from his friends, who rigidly insist that his suffering is a direct consequence of his sin, implying God is punishing him justly. Job vehemently denies this accusation, maintaining his innocence and moral integrity. He is perplexed by God's actions, or lack thereof, regarding his plight. Chapter 23 focuses on Job's desperate search for God, not to curse Him, but to confront Him in a legal sense, to plead his case, and to understand His reasons. Verse 5 encapsulates this intense desire for a direct encounter, a "day in court" where he can receive an explanation from God Himself, as he believes he would be vindicated. This directly challenges the contemporary Ancient Near Eastern retribution theology by presenting a righteous sufferer who demands an explanation from a seemingly unjust God, without abandoning faith.

Job 23 5 Word analysis

• I would know: A passionate expression of longing, not mere curiosity. The Hebrew verb is yādaʿ (יָדַע), meaning "to know" experientially, intimately, or profoundly. It's not just intellectual understanding, but a desire for personal, verifiable knowledge, similar to the knowing between a husband and wife.
• the words: From the Hebrew ʾōmer (אֹמֶר), referring to specific speech, utterances, or declared pronouncements. Job seeks concrete, definite answers, not vague generalities or silence.
• which he would answer me: From yāshīv (יָשִׁיב), "to return," "to answer," or "to reply." This implies a reciprocal conversation or a response to Job's arguments and pleas. In the context of ancient legal proceedings, it points to a judge's or party's response in court.
• and understand: From the Hebrew verb ʾāvin (אָבִין), which means "to discern," "to perceive deeply," or "to gain insight." This complements "know," adding a layer of comprehending the why and how behind God's communication and actions, not just the raw facts.
• what he would say unto me: From yōmar (יֹאמַר), "to say" or "to speak." This is a strong parallel to "the words which he would answer me," reiterating and intensifying Job's plea for explicit verbal communication from God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I would know the words which he would answer me": This phrase emphasizes Job's legal desire for direct, specific testimony from God. He's not just seeking general comfort or solace, but a clear, articulate response to his plight and his presumed innocence. It carries the weight of a plaintiff or defendant demanding a statement from the ultimate authority.
• "and understand what he would say unto me": This second part of the verse mirrors the first, serving as an intensifying parallel. It highlights Job's yearning for not just the "what" (the words), but the "why" (the understanding). He seeks both the divine verdict and the rationale behind it. This pairing shows a comprehensive longing for both information and profound insight. It demonstrates Job's intellectual and spiritual hunger for clarity regarding God's seemingly inexplicable ways.

Job 23 5 Bonus section

Job's persistent longing to hear from God is not driven by rebellion or disbelief in God's existence, but by his desperate search for meaning in his suffering and a vindication of his integrity. This plea reveals a pivotal theological tension: the expectation that a righteous God would justly intervene and speak to His servant, versus the lived experience of God's silence during deep affliction. This anticipates the New Testament emphasis on direct access to God through Christ and the Spirit, where communication is assured (Jn 14:13, Rom 8:26-27, Heb 4:16), albeit often not in the way humans might dictate. Job's experience teaches profound humility concerning human comprehension of divine wisdom.

Job 23 5 Commentary

Job 23:5 captures the heart of Job's struggle: a righteous man suffering intensely, who, in profound perplexity, desires a personal and judicial encounter with God. He is not merely complaining about his pain; he seeks justice, vindication, and understanding directly from the source of his trials. This verse underscores Job's extraordinary faith, in that despite God's apparent absence and silence, Job holds fast to the belief that God is righteous and, if He would but speak, would clarify everything. His insistence on God's answer signifies a deep respect for divine authority coupled with an unwavering conviction in his own innocence. It sets the stage for the book's climax, where God does speak from the whirlwind, not with the courtroom answers Job anticipated, but with a revelation of His incomprehensible power and sovereignty, which ultimately provides a deeper, albeit different, form of understanding. This verse profoundly expresses the human spiritual cry for divine communication and clarity amidst bewildering suffering.