Job 23 7

Job 23:7 kjv

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 23:7 nkjv

There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

Job 23:7 niv

There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

Job 23:7 esv

There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

Job 23:7 nlt

Honest people can reason with him,
so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.

Job 23 verses

Job 23 7 Meaning

Job 23:7 expresses Job's fervent desire for a direct encounter with God in a legal setting, where he believes an "upright" person, like himself, could present their case. He yearns for a fair hearing, convinced that such an opportunity would result in his permanent deliverance and vindication from the divine judgment he currently endures. This verse highlights Job's unwavering conviction of his own righteousness and his profound hope that God, as the ultimate Judge, would eventually affirm his innocence if only a true dialogue were possible.

Job 23 7 Context

Job 23 is a continuation of Job's response to Eliphaz, marking the beginning of the third cycle of speeches. Job is deeply distressed by the apparent inaccessibility of God and the continuation of his suffering. Throughout the chapter, Job reiterates his profound desire to find God and plead his case directly before Him, believing that if given a proper hearing, his innocence would be established. He views his ordeal as a legal battle where he is unjustly accused and seeks a forum where justice can prevail. The historical-cultural context reveals an Ancient Near Eastern legal framework where formal hearings were crucial for resolving disputes, even those believed to be divine judgments. Job applies this familiar legal concept to his situation with God, portraying God as both his afflicter and the only one who can ultimately vindicate him. His longing for a face-to-face encounter is not for defiance but for a clear judgment based on truth, an indirect challenge to contemporary beliefs that suffering necessarily indicated sin.

Job 23 7 Word analysis

• There (שָׁם - sham): Refers to the divine court or presence where Job longs to meet God. It signifies a specific, sacred location for a legal hearing, contrasting with Job's current state of God's hiddenness.
• the upright (יָשָׁר - yashar): Signifies integrity, rectitude, straightforwardness, moral purity. This is a core self-designation for Job, reflecting his insistence on his blamelessness before God (cf. Job 1:1, 8). It highlights Job's confidence in his moral standing, directly refuting his friends' accusations of hidden sin.
• might reason (אִוַּכַּח - 'ivvakakh): From the root יָכַח (yākaḥ), meaning to decide, to prove, to plead, to dispute, to arbitrate. It's a strong legal term implying a formal debate or contention of arguments. Job desires not a mere conversation but a formal, just, and decisive legal process with God Himself.
• with Him (עִמּוֹ - 'immo): Emphasizes direct confrontation and personal appeal to God, without intermediaries. Job seeks to address God face-to-face, challenging the perceived remoteness or inaccessibility of the divine Judge.
• so I (וַאֲנִי - va'ani): "And I." The emphatic personal pronoun "I" stresses Job's individual yearning and expectation of the outcome. It's his personal vindication he seeks.
• should be delivered (אֶמָּלֵט - 'emmaleṭ): From the root מָלַט (malaṭ), meaning to escape, flee, be saved, deliver oneself. It denotes a sense of rescue or liberation from danger or a predicament. In Job's context, it means to be freed from his suffering, the accusations, and the burden of presumed guilt.
• forever (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam): For eternity, perpetually, for all time. This highlights the permanency of the desired vindication. Job doesn't want temporary relief; he seeks an ultimate and irreversible declaration of his innocence, ending his trial permanently.
• from my Judge (מִשֹּׁפְטִי - mi-shofti): From my decision-maker, my dispenser of justice. The term שׁוֹפֵט (shofet) is active, one who judges or rules. It refers directly to God as the source of his current afflictions and the one who holds the power to vindicate him. This is a bold and complex address, as Job sees the very one afflicting him as his only hope for justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "There the upright might reason with Him": This phrase encapsulates Job's conviction that an honest, pure person should be granted an opportunity for direct discourse and argument before God. It sets up the idea of a divine court where integrity (יָשָׁר) is recognized, and a fair hearing (אִוַּכַּח) can be obtained directly from God.
• "so I should be delivered forever from my Judge": This highlights Job's anticipated outcome: ultimate and permanent liberation from the one currently perceived as both his Judge and his tormentor. It speaks to Job's profound longing for not just relief, but irreversible vindication, affirming his unwavering belief in his own innocence and in God's eventual righteous judgment.

Job 23 7 Bonus section

• Job's petition for a legal contest (Hebrew: rib) with God is a recurrent theme throughout the book (cf. Job 9:32-33, 13:3, 16:21). This illustrates a foundational concept in ancient Near Eastern theology where individuals, even rulers, could appeal to the divine for judgment and vindication.
• The paradox of Job desiring deliverance from his Judge points to his struggle to differentiate between God as his current afflictor and God as the ultimate source of justice and vindication. He seeks refuge from the perceived judgment by appealing to God's inherent justice.
• Job's "reasoning" (יָכַח) implies not just talking, but proving a point, arguing convincingly. He desires an outcome, not just a discussion.
• While Job articulates a desperate human yearning for vindication, the book's resolution, when God finally appears, is not a legal debate but a demonstration of divine sovereignty and wisdom that dwarfs human comprehension, shifting Job's perspective from justifying himself to revering God.
• Job's faith here is in the character of God—that God is ultimately just and will, therefore, vindicate the truly upright. This deep trust underlies his audacity to demand a hearing.

Job 23 7 Commentary

Job 23:7 unveils the deepest layer of Job's distress and hope. His desire for a judicial encounter with God is born out of his overwhelming conviction of innocence and his inability to reconcile his suffering with his piety. He is not demanding justice out of defiance, but rather appealing to the fundamental righteousness of God, believing that if given the chance to present his case, the very One afflicting him would become his deliverer. This reveals a remarkable paradox: Job struggles intensely with God, yet his ultimate hope is in God. His persistent longing for a direct, legal dialogue with God is an act of audacious faith, anticipating a level of divine interaction that goes beyond traditional piety. It foreshadows the New Testament concept of approaching God confidently through Christ, our Advocate, and also highlights humanity's perennial wrestling with suffering and divine justice, a struggle ultimately resolved not by human argumentation but by God's sovereign revelation (Job 38-41) and Christ's work on the cross. For the believer, Job's desire finds its fulfillment in prayer and intercession, where we are invited to bring our burdens and questions before the throne of grace, knowing that our "Judge" has become our gracious Father.