Job 9 20

Job 9:20 kjv

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 9:20 nkjv

Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

Job 9:20 niv

Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

Job 9:20 esv

Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

Job 9:20 nlt

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.
Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

Job 9 verses

Job 9 20 Meaning

Job 9:20 conveys Job's profound despair regarding the possibility of justifying himself before God. He argues that even if he were truly righteous and blameless in his own eyes, attempting to present his case to God would inevitably lead to his condemnation and reversal, appearing perverse in God's unchallengeable presence. It speaks to the futility of human self-vindication against the overwhelming majesty and holiness of God, who judges with absolute authority and whose standards transcend human comprehension.

Job 9 20 Context

Job 9:20 is part of Job's complex response to Bildad, one of his three friends. Bildad had just implied that God's justice is perfect and that Job's suffering must be due to his wickedness. In Chapter 9, Job begins by agreeing with the friends about God's absolute power and righteousness (Job 9:1-12). However, Job quickly transitions to expressing his profound despair and the insurmountable chasm between God's perfect justice and any human attempt at self-justification.

He acknowledges God's omnipotence and omnicompetence as a cosmic judge, who cannot be reasoned with or compelled by human argument. This verse particularly captures Job's inner conflict: he perceives himself as righteous (or at least blameless in relation to the friends' accusations), yet he grasps the overwhelming truth that no human can stand justified before the infinite holiness of God. The entire chapter grapples with the unchallengeable might of God, concluding that God works in ways beyond human comprehension, making any human attempt to plead one's case ultimately futile and self-condemnatory.

Job 9 20 Word analysis

• Though (אִם־, *’im-`): This conjunction introduces a conditional clause. It can mean "if," "though," or "even if." Here, it sets up a hypothetical scenario, highlighting the paradox Job describes: even under the most favorable condition (his righteousness), the outcome would be condemnation. It reflects a concession on Job's part, acknowledging that even his best is insufficient.
• I am righteous (אֶצְדָּק, ’etṣdāq): Derived from the root צָדַק (tsadaq), meaning "to be righteous, just, innocent." Job is stating his conviction about his own moral integrity and blamelessness in contrast to the accusations of his friends. It's a statement of self-vindication, asserting that he is or would be considered just by human standards. The verbal form here (imperfect cohortative) suggests a nuance of "should I try to prove myself righteous" or "even if I were declared righteous."
• my own mouth (פִּי, pî): Literally "my mouth." This is a crucial element. It signifies Job's own words, his attempts at argumentation, self-defense, or pleading his case. The irony is poignant: the very instrument meant to justify him becomes the means of his downfall.
• would condemn me (יַרְשִׁיעֵנִי, yaršî‘ēnî): From the root רָשַׁע (rasha‘), "to be wicked, guilty," or in the hiphil stem, "to declare wicked, condemn, pronounce guilty." This vividly portrays God's action. God doesn't just disagree; He would actively declare Job wicked, even in Job's self-perceived righteousness. It's a divine declaration of guilt, a legal judgment.
• though I am blameless (אֶתַּם, ’etam): Derived from the root תָּמַם (tamam), meaning "to be complete, sound, blameless, perfect." Similar to "righteous," Job reaffirms his integrity, suggesting purity of heart and conduct, indicating freedom from culpability. This is another hypothetical, yet strongly asserted, state of being. The nuance is "even if I were to plead blameless."
• it would prove me perverse (יַהַפְכֵנִי, yahpekhenî): From the root הָפַךְ (hāphakh), "to turn, overturn, transform, twist, pervert." This powerful verb suggests a reversal or distortion. Not only would God declare him guilty, but the very act of trying to justify himself would cause God to transform his plea for innocence into evidence of his perversity or rebellious nature. It implies a total re-evaluation by divine standards that makes any human self-assessment seem twisted.

Words-group analysis

• "Though I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me": This phrase expresses the paradox of Job's situation. He sees himself as just, yet believes his efforts to articulate this justice before God would result in divine condemnation. This isn't about God falsely accusing Job, but about God's standard of righteousness being so infinitely high that any human self-assertion or attempt at self-justification becomes an act of arrogance or presumption, revealing a hidden imperfection that leads to divine conviction.
• "though I am blameless, it would prove me perverse": This reiterates and strengthens the previous thought. Even an inner state of integrity and blamelessness, when presented before God in a litigant manner, would be overturned or twisted to appear as moral perversity. This highlights the absolute transcendence of God's judgment, where human perceptions of "blamelessness" are wholly inadequate. It reflects Job's realization that in a legal contest with the Almighty, the outcome is predetermined, not by the merits of his case, but by God's unparalleled power and purity.

Job 9 20 Bonus section

Job's lament in this verse employs a powerful legal metaphor. Job imagines himself in a divine courtroom, pleading his case against an omnipotent prosecutor (God). However, he recognizes the fatal asymmetry of this trial: the Judge and the prosecutor are one, and the defendant, no matter how self-assured, is ultimately powerless. The imagery implies that God’s justice is not a matter of empirical evidence or persuasive rhetoric but an inherent quality of God's being that simply exposes the inadequacy of any created being's claims. Job perceives that God could simply "declare" him guilty or twist his truthful words into falsehood, demonstrating absolute sovereignty even over interpretation of truth. This highlights Job's deep sense of powerlessness in the face of a divine will that is unfathomable and uncontestable by human standards.

Job 9 20 Commentary

Job 9:20 plunges into the profound dilemma of human righteousness confronted by divine holiness. Job, despite his protestations of innocence against his friends' accusations, paradoxically understands that any attempt to legally contend with God would backfire spectacularly. He's not just expressing defeat; he's articulating a theological insight: God's justice is not a mirror of human judicial systems. God doesn't operate within human definitions of "fairness" or require human-like proofs of innocence.

The core message is the immense gap between human righteousness and God's perfect, unapproachable holiness. What humans perceive as "blameless" or "righteous" pales into utter insignificance, even becomes an affront, when held up to God's flawless standard. The very act of attempting to "justify" oneself before such a God is seen by Job as an act of audacity or presumption that would inevitably lead to further condemnation. This speaks to the universal human condition, recognizing that no human can genuinely claim absolute righteousness before the Creator without ultimately being found wanting and, by God's decree, perverse. This isn't self-loathing, but an acknowledgment of God's overwhelming majesty and a recognition that a courtroom battle with the Divine Judge is a contest man cannot win. It points humanity towards a need for something beyond self-justification.