Job 10:2

KJV

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

KJV (with Strong's)

I will say {H559} unto God {H433}, Do not condemn {H7561} me; shew {H3045} me wherefore thou contendest {H7378} with me.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will say to God, 'Don't condemn me! Tell me why you are contending with me.

Berean Standard Bible

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

American Standard Version

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 10:2 is a profound and poignant cry from the heart of Job, who, enduring immense and inexplicable suffering, turns directly to God. After rounds of debate with his friends who insist his calamities are due to hidden sin, Job pleads for clarity and justice. This verse encapsulates his deep anguish, confusion, and desperate desire to understand the reason for his affliction, challenging the conventional wisdom that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 10:2 is situated within the second cycle of speeches between Job and his three friends (Bildad's speech in [Job 8](/job/8 "Job 8 - Bildad's First Speech") and Job's response in [Job 9-10](/job/9 "Job 9 - Job's Response to Bildad")). Having just lamented God's overwhelming power and his inability to contend with Him in [Job 9:32-33](/job/9-32 "Job 9:32-33 - Job's Inability to Contend with God"), Job shifts from a general complaint about divine inscrutability to a direct, desperate plea for an explanation. This verse marks a pivotal moment where Job, having exhausted arguments with his human interlocutors, turns his full attention to the ultimate source of his suffering, demanding an answer from God Himself. It sets the stage for his continued lament and passionate defense of his innocence throughout the subsequent chapters.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is a pivotal work of Old Testament wisdom literature, exploring the complex problem of suffering, particularly for the righteous. In ancient Near Eastern thought, there was a prevalent belief in "retributive justice"—the idea that prosperity was a sign of divine favor for righteousness, and suffering was a direct punishment for sin. Job's friends rigorously adhered to this conventional theology, pressuring Job to confess a transgression. However, Job vehemently maintains his innocence, challenging this simplistic worldview. His plea in [Job 10:2](/job/10-2 "Job 10:2 - Job's Plea for Explanation") is revolutionary because he dares to question God's actions and demands an explanation, moving beyond the traditional framework of understanding suffering and highlighting the unique theological contribution of the book.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Job. It underscores the **Mystery of Suffering**, illustrating the enduring human struggle to reconcile the existence of a just and loving God with the reality of profound, seemingly arbitrary, and undeserved suffering. Job's plea, "Do not condemn me," highlights the theme of **Vindication and Justice**, as he longs for God to acknowledge his innocence rather than treat him as a guilty sinner. Furthermore, his demand, "shew me wherefore thou contendest with me," emphasizes the profound **Desire for Understanding** in the face of inexplicable pain, a core human need to find meaning in affliction. Finally, Job's direct address to God, while expressing anguish, also exemplifies **Humanity's Bold Questioning of God**, demonstrating a deep, albeit troubled, relationship with the divine, acknowledging God's sovereignty while still yearning for answers, a theme that reverberates from [Job's initial lament](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament") through to [God's eventual response from the whirlwind](/job/38 "Job 38 - God Answers Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Condemn (Hebrew, _rasha'_):** This verb (רָשַׁע) means "to declare guilty," "to act wickedly," or "to punish." Job is pleading that God not treat him as a guilty sinner, as he believes he has not committed any sin worthy of such severe punishment. It carries a strong legal connotation, implying a verdict of culpability. Job feels as though he has been judged and found guilty, yet without a trial or even knowledge of the charges.
* **Contendest (Hebrew, _riv_):** The noun (רִיב) refers to a "dispute," "quarrel," or "legal contest." The verbal form used here indicates God's active engagement in this dispute against Job. Job perceives himself as being in a legal battle with God, where God is both his accuser and judge, yet he is unaware of the charges or the reason for this divine contention. It highlights the adversarial nature of what Job perceives to be God's actions against him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I will say unto God":** This opening phrase signifies Job's direct address to the divine. Having debated his friends to no avail, Job now turns directly to the ultimate source of his suffering. It is a bold, intimate, and desperate act of communication, bypassing human intermediaries and appealing straight to the Almighty. It reflects a profound, albeit anguished, relationship with God, where Job still believes God is the one who can provide answers.
* **"Do not condemn me":** This is Job's primary plea. He feels as though he has been unjustly accused and punished by God, treated as if he were a wicked man deserving of such calamity. He is not asking for an end to his suffering as much as he is pleading for vindication—for God to acknowledge his innocence and cease treating him as guilty. This reflects his core conviction that his suffering is not a direct result of his sin.
* **"shew me wherefore thou contendest with me":** This is the heart of Job's demand. He is not merely asking for an end to his suffering, but for an *understanding* of its purpose. He wants to know the specific charges against him, the rationale behind God's dispute. This highlights the deep human need to make sense of inexplicable pain and the desire for transparency and justice from the divine. Job seeks not just relief, but revelation.

#### Literary Devices
Job 10:2 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's anguish and plea. It is primarily a **Lament**, a common genre in biblical literature where the speaker expresses deep sorrow, suffering, and often a complaint to God. Job's words are a direct outpouring of his pain and confusion. The verse also utilizes **Legal Metaphor**, casting Job's relationship with God in terms of a courtroom dispute. Job feels as though he is on trial, accused and condemned, without knowing the charges. His plea, "Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me," uses legal terminology ("condemn," "contendest") to frame his request for justice and an explanation. This metaphor underscores Job's sense of being unjustly prosecuted by the very one who should be his defender. The direct address to God ("I will say unto God") is a form of **Apostrophe**, where the speaker addresses an absent or abstract entity, emphasizing the intensity and personal nature of Job's communication with the divine.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 10:2 stands as a powerful testament to the human struggle with divine justice and the mystery of suffering. It challenges simplistic theological frameworks that equate suffering directly with sin, forcing a deeper contemplation of God's ways, which often transcend human comprehension. Job's bold yet respectful questioning of God reveals a faith that, though wounded, remains engaged and seeks understanding from the very source of its pain. This verse invites believers to bring their honest questions and deepest anguish before God, affirming that authentic faith does not require suppression of doubt or pain, but rather a trusting, even if troubled, dialogue with the Almighty. It anticipates the ultimate revelation that God's wisdom and purposes are far grander than human frameworks can contain.

* [Psalm 44:23-24](/psalm/44-23 "Psalm 44:23-24 - A Plea for God's Awakening") – A similar cry from a community feeling abandoned and unjustly afflicted by God.
* [Lamentations 3:37-39](/lamentations/3-37 "Lamentations 3:37-39 - No Complaint Against God") – While affirming God's sovereignty over all events, it still acknowledges the human tendency to question suffering.
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts are Higher") – God's declaration that His thoughts and ways are higher than humanity's, providing a theological backdrop to the mystery Job faces.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's raw and honest cry in [Job 10:2](/job/10-2 "Job 10:2 - Job's Plea for Explanation") offers profound permission for believers today. In moments of inexplicable hardship, when life feels profoundly unfair and God's actions seem opaque, we are not required to suppress our confusion, pain, or even our "why?" questions. Job models a faith that is courageous enough to articulate its deepest struggles directly to God, trusting that the Creator can handle our honest lament. This verse reminds us that true intimacy with God includes bringing our unvarnished emotions and intellectual wrestling to Him. While the Book of Job ultimately calls us to trust in God's sovereign wisdom even when answers are withheld, this particular verse validates the human experience of feeling unjustly treated and encourages us to persist in seeking God's presence and understanding, even if full comprehension remains elusive. It is a call to lean into God, not away from Him, in our suffering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing suffering or confusion where you wish God would "shew you wherefore He contends with you"?**
* **How does Job's bold yet reverent questioning challenge your own approach to prayer during times of trial?**
* **Do you feel permission to voice your honest doubts and frustrations to God, or do you feel compelled to suppress them? Why?**
* **What does Job's desire for an explanation (rather than just relief) reveal about the human need for meaning in suffering?**

### FAQ
**Does Job's questioning of God in this verse imply a lack of faith or disrespect?**

Answer: While Job's language is undeniably bold and expresses deep frustration, it does not imply a lack of faith in the sense of abandoning God. On the contrary, his direct address to God ("I will say unto God") demonstrates a profound, albeit anguished, relationship with the divine. Job is not questioning God's existence or power, but rather His justice and the rationale behind His actions towards him. His plea for an explanation, "shew me wherefore thou contendest with me," comes from a place of desperate longing for understanding and vindication, not outright rebellion. The Book of Job ultimately portrays Job as a man of great integrity and faith, even in his questioning, which is a testament to the depth and resilience of his relationship with God. His faith is robust enough to wrestle with God, rather than simply accepting his fate passively. This wrestling itself can be an act of profound faith, as seen throughout the Psalms where lament and questioning are common expressions of devotion (e.g., [Psalm 22:1](/psalm/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry in [Job 10:2](/job/10-2 "Job 10:2 - Job's Plea for Explanation"), "Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me," finds its ultimate echo and fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job, an innocent sufferer, pleads for vindication and understanding, yet receives no immediate answer. In stark contrast, Jesus, the truly innocent One, willingly became the condemned for humanity's sake. On the cross, He bore the ultimate condemnation that Job feared, becoming sin for us, though He knew no sin ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His agonizing cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), mirrors Job's sense of divine contention, yet it was a cry of substitutionary suffering, absorbing the righteous wrath and judgment that humanity deserved. While Job sought an explanation for his *undeserved* suffering, Christ *deserved* no suffering, yet willingly endured the full weight of God's contention against sin, offering Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His sacrifice, those who believe are no longer condemned ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ")), and the mystery of suffering, while not fully removed, is reframed by the greater mystery of God's redemptive love revealed in the cross, where God Himself suffered with and for humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Psalms 139:24

And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Job 9:29

[If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Psalms 143:2

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Lamentations 3:40

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Lamentations 3:42

¶ We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

Romans 8:1

¶ [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.