Job 23 6

Job 23:6 kjv

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Job 23:6 nkjv

Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.

Job 23:6 niv

Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me.

Job 23:6 esv

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.

Job 23:6 nlt

Would he use his great power to argue with me?
No, he would give me a fair hearing.

Job 23 verses

Job 23 6 Meaning

Job 23:6 expresses Job’s deep desire for God to engage with him in a manner of thoughtful consideration, rather than simply overpowering him with immense might. He does not wish for God to use overwhelming force in a divine courtroom scenario, but rather for God to set aside His overwhelming power and genuinely listen to his arguments and distress. Job longs for a fair hearing, seeking divine attention and understanding more than judgment through absolute strength.

Job 23 6 Context

Job 23 stands as a pivotal expression of Job's intense longing to confront God directly. After three rounds of dialogue with his friends, who insist on his sinfulness as the cause of his suffering, Job dismisses their accusations and seeks a direct audience with the Almighty. He wishes to present his case and plead his innocence. Job 23:3-5 articulate his desire to find God and lay out his case logically, convinced that he could prevail if granted a fair hearing. Verse 6 specifically delves into the nature of the hearing he seeks: not a demonstration of God's overwhelming power, but rather God's attentive consideration of his plea. Historically, Job's narrative is set in an ancient, pre-Israelite context, likely patriarchal. The cultural expectation was often that divine power was used decisively to reward the righteous and punish the wicked, making Job's nuanced desire for attention over crushing judgment a profound counterpoint.

Word Analysis

• Would He contend (הֲיָרִיב - ha-yārīḇ): This phrase introduces a rhetorical question. The root ריב (rīv) means "to contend, strive, dispute, plead a cause." Job imagines a courtroom setting. He questions if God would act as an oppressive adversary in this judicial process, crushing him with overwhelming might, or rather as an impartial hearer. Job seeks a legal exchange, not a display of brute force.
• with me (עִמָּדִי - `immāḏî): Emphasizes the intensely personal nature of the desired encounter. Job desires God's presence and engagement with him, an individual, rather than God working remotely or impersonally.
• with His great power (בְּרֹב כֹּחַ - bə-rōḇ kōaḥ): This refers to God's omnipotence. Job is keenly aware of God's infinite might, which he acknowledges throughout the book (e.g., Job 9:4-10, 26:7-14). Here, he implies a plea that God refrain from exercising this power arbitrarily in the legal contest. He fears God’s might would invalidate his plea, not by right, but by sheer force.
• No, but (אִם לֹא הוּא - `im lōʾ hūʾ): This is an emphatic negation followed by a strong affirmation, often rendered "Surely not... rather..." It sets up a strong contrast. Job asserts that the desired interaction is not one of power demonstration.
• He would pay attention to me (יָשֵׂם בִּי - yāśēm bī): The verb שִׂים (śīm), meaning "to place, set, put," when used with the preposition בְּ (bə) often means "to set one's mind upon," "to pay attention to," or "to consider carefully." This is the core of Job's hope. He doesn't want to be overwhelmed, but truly heard and considered. He desires God to place His thoughts and understanding upon Job's situation, leading to a just outcome. It speaks to God's mindfulness and judicious engagement rather than raw omnipotence.

Job 23 6 Bonus section

The longing expressed by Job for God's attention, not His might, foreshadows the New Covenant promise of confident access to God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16). Job, wrestling in the dark, intuitively reaches for a relational quality of God that later scripture illuminates more fully through Christ. Job's yearning for God to "pay attention" reflects a deep desire for divine vindication that only truly came to full realization in the life and ministry of Jesus, who invited humanity into a direct, relational experience with God the Father. It speaks to the human soul's inherent need for validation and justice from its Creator, not merely overwhelming force.

Job 23 6 Commentary

Job 23:6 offers a profound insight into Job's faith amidst overwhelming suffering. Despite his inability to comprehend God's ways or even find Him, Job firmly believes in the possibility of a righteous God. He recognizes God's absolute power but appeals to a different aspect of His character: divine justice and a willingness to engage personally. Job is not questioning God's omnipotence, but rather His approach to a divine judgment. He rejects the notion that God would simply use His power to silence or crush a plaintiff without due process. Instead, Job expresses an audacious hope for an audience where God would lay aside His power differential and genuinely consider Job's arguments. This verse highlights a critical tension: while God's power is absolute and unchallengeable, His justice and willingness to engage with humanity's pleas offer hope. It underscores Job’s steadfast belief that God is inherently just and can be reasoned with, even if that means setting aside overwhelming force for a moment of merciful attention.