Job 23:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I would know his answering words and grasp what he would tell me.

Berean Standard Bible:

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

American Standard Version:

I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

I would know^{H3045} the words^{H4405} which he would answer^{H6030} me, and understand^{H995} what he would say^{H559} unto me.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Job 23:5

Job 23:5 is a verse from the Book of Job, which is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in the Christian tradition. The Book of Job deals with the problem of suffering and the nature of divine justice, as it recounts the story of Job, a righteous man who loses everything—his wealth, children, and health—due to a divine challenge to Satan.

In this particular verse, Job expresses a deep longing to communicate directly with God, to know the words God would use to answer him, and to understand God's perspective on his suffering. The themes here include the human desire for divine communication, the quest for understanding in the face of unjust suffering, and the tension between human finitude and the inscrutability of divine wisdom.

Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE), a time when the Israelites were grappling with theodicy—the question of how a just and powerful God can allow evil and suffering to exist. Job's situation mirrors the national crisis of the exile, where the people struggled to reconcile their faith in a covenantal God with their experience of loss and displacement.

Job's words in verse 23:5 reflect a universal human yearning to confront and question the divine about life's injustices, and to seek comfort or explanation for the trials one endures. This verse captures the essence of Job's struggle, as he seeks to engage with God on his own terms, hoping for a chance to plead his case and receive answers that might make sense of his profound suffering.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3045
   There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָדַע
   Transliteration: yâdaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
   Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4405
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִלָּה
   Transliteration: millâh
   Pronunciation: mil-law'
   Description: from מָלַל (plural masculine as if from מִלֶּה; a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic; [phrase] answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6030
   There are 317 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָנָה
   Transliteration: ʻânâh
   Pronunciation: aw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce; give account, afflict (by mistake for עָנָה), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for עָנָה), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also בֵּית עֲנוֹת, בֵּית עֲנָת.
   
4. Strong's Number: H995
   There are 162 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּין
   Transliteration: bîyn
   Pronunciation: bene
   Description: a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand; attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).
   
5. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.