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Job 9:17-21

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

17. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. 19. If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]? 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 21. [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Job 9:17-21 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Job 9:17

Theological / Devotional

Breaketh me. In vs. 17-21 Job tries to imagine what would happen if he should challenge God, and God should respond to his challenge. He pictures God as acting toward him, not as a judge, determining matters by rule of law, but as a sovereign, determining them by His own will. Job seems to lose sight of the fact that supreme sovereignty is not inconsistent with supreme love and rectitude. Without cause. Heb. chinnam translated similarly in ch. 2:3, but rendered “for nought” in ch. 1:9. Job attributes to God that which was clearly the work and scheme of Satan (ch. 2:3). See on Ps. 38:3 ; 39:9.

By SdaBc