Job 9 2

Job 9:2 kjv

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Job 9:2 nkjv

"Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?

Job 9:2 niv

"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?

Job 9:2 esv

"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

Job 9:2 nlt

"Yes, I know all this is true in principle.
But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight?

Job 9 verses

Job 9 2 Meaning

Job 9:2 is a profound statement by Job acknowledging God's absolute power and just nature, yet immediately questioning how any mortal human can possibly be declared righteous or vindicated in the presence of such a holy and mighty God. It encapsulates Job's deep spiritual dilemma: he recognizes God's undeniable supremacy and perfection, but he perceives an insurmountable gap between divine holiness and human frailty and sinfulness, leading to despair regarding human self-justification.

Job 9 2 Context

Job 9 falls within the dialogue between Job and his friends, specifically as Job's response to Bildad's speech in chapter 8. Bildad had reiterated the conventional wisdom of the time: God is just, and therefore, suffering indicates sin, implying Job's guilt. In Job 9, Job does not dispute God's justice or immense power; instead, he takes Bildad's argument to its logical conclusion, recognizing the overwhelming disparity between God's absolute might and holiness and frail humanity. Job understands that if God were to scrutinize every detail of human conduct, no one, no matter how righteous they thought they were, could stand innocent before Him. His question is one of despair: not whether God is just, but how any human being can be found just in the presence of such an utterly just and powerful God. This context highlights Job's wrestling with the limits of human understanding and his growing awareness of an unbridgeable chasm, apart from divine intervention, between humanity and God.

Job 9 2 Word analysis

• "Indeed" (אָכֵן, ‘āken): This Hebrew particle signifies "truly," "surely," or "without a doubt." It emphasizes Job's firm agreement and conviction about the preceding theological statements concerning God's power and justice, particularly those affirmed by his friends and recognized universally. It grounds his subsequent agonizing question in an accepted truth.
• "I know" (יָדַעְתִּי, yāda‘tî): From the verb יָדַע (yada') meaning "to know," "to understand," "to be acquainted with." The perfect tense suggests a settled knowledge, a deep and personal conviction, not just a casual observation. Job isn't merely repeating a maxim; he has intellectually and experientially come to this understanding.
• "that this is true" (כִּי־כֵן הוּא, kî-kēn hû): Literally "that so it is," or "that it is indeed so." This refers back to the undisputed fact of God's immense power, wisdom, and the inherent truthfulness of His attributes, as described in prior chapters (e.g., God's unsearchable greatness and His righteous judgments). Job affirms the reliability and reality of God's character.
• "But how" (וּמַה, ûmâ): The conjunction "and" (û) followed by the interrogative "what/how" (mâ). This marks a crucial transition and introduces the profound dilemma. It shifts the discourse from God's undeniable nature to humanity's precarious position in light of it. It conveys Job's perplexity and deep existential query.
• "can a man" (אֱנוֹשׁ, ’ĕnôš): This specific Hebrew term for "man" often carries connotations of weakness, mortality, frailty, and the general human condition, as distinct from ‘ish (a strong or specific man). Its use here highlights the inherent limitations and transient nature of humanity when confronted by the divine.
• "be righteous" (יִצְדַּק, yiṣdaq): From the root צדק (ṣdq), meaning "to be just," "to be righteous," "to be innocent," or "to be vindicated." In a legal context, it implies being acquitted or declared innocent. Job is not questioning the possibility of moral living, but the absolute impossibility of any human attaining or demonstrating sufficient righteousness to be legally justified or declared pure before a perfectly holy God.
• "before God" (עִם־אֱלוֹהַּ, ‘im-’ĕlôah): Literally "with God" or "in the presence of God." The term ’ĕlôah (God, singular) emphasizes God's majesty, uniqueness, and power as the transcendent Judge. The phrase indicates standing directly in divine judgment, where human flaws are fully exposed and where human attempts at self-justification are futile.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Indeed, I know that this is true.": This opening clause establishes Job's unwavering conviction regarding God's omnipotence and righteous governance, affirming the theological premise shared by his friends. It disclaims any rebellion against divine truth and instead portrays Job as a believer grappling with difficult implications.
  • "But how can a man be righteous before God?": This second clause is the pivot, transforming the acknowledgement of God's greatness into a desperate, probing question about humanity's standing. It unveils the central tension of Job's struggle: recognizing God's perfect standard and knowing his own, and humanity's, intrinsic imperfection. This question highlights the deep need for a mediator or an external provision for righteousness.

Job 9 2 Bonus section

This verse powerfully anticipates the core problem that the New Covenant addresses. While Job could not foresee the specifics, his question "How can a man be righteous before God?" is directly answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Bible's ultimate resolution to Job's dilemma is that humanity cannot establish its own righteousness, but God graciously provides it through faith. This means Job 9:2 serves as a timeless theological question that guides readers toward understanding the necessity of God's imputed righteousness for salvation. It underlines that all human efforts fall short of God's perfect standard, thereby setting the groundwork for comprehending grace.

Job 9 2 Commentary

Job 9:2 is one of the most poignant expressions in the Old Testament of humanity's existential crisis concerning righteousness before a holy God. Job, far from denying God's justice or power, profoundly acknowledges it, echoing a foundational truth about the divine nature. His struggle, however, is with the implications of this truth for a fallen, finite human being. If God is infinitely righteous and powerful, capable of detecting the slightest imperfection, how could any person ever hope to stand before Him and be declared just?

This verse reveals a crucial theological insight that underpins the entire biblical narrative: the insurmountable gap between divine holiness and human sinfulness. Job understands that no amount of good works, moral striving, or self-proclaimed innocence can bridge this chasm. His despair encapsulates the universal human predicament that requires divine intervention for salvation. While Job doesn't have the New Testament's explicit answer, his question sets the stage for the revelation of justification by grace through faith in Christ. It demonstrates a deep awareness of sin and God's demand for perfection, anticipating the truth that righteousness must be granted, not earned. The brilliance of Job's struggle lies in its raw honesty, acknowledging the fundamental problem that only the Gospel can fully resolve.