Job 16:21

KJV

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

KJV (with Strong's)

O that one might plead {H3198} for a man {H1397} with God {H433}, as a man {H120} pleadeth for his neighbour {H1121}{H7453}!

Complete Jewish Bible

that he would arbitrate between a man and God, just as one does for his fellow human being.

Berean Standard Bible

Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

American Standard Version

That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 16:21 encapsulates Job's profound and desperate yearning for an intermediary, an advocate who could stand between him and God. In the throes of immense suffering, feeling unjustly accused by his friends and seemingly attacked by the Almighty Himself, Job cries out for a fair hearing. He longs for someone to plead his case with God, just as one would arbitrate a dispute between neighbors. This poignant verse powerfully conveys his deep sense of isolation, his unwavering conviction of innocence, and his fervent plea for a just and relational encounter with the divine.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 16 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches (chapters 12-17), where he confronts the inadequate and often accusatory counsel of his friends. Having just vividly described God as his relentless assailant, tearing him in anger and making him a target of divine wrath ([Job 16:9-14](/job/16-9-14 "Job 16:9-14 - God as Job's Adversary")), Job pivots from lamenting God's perceived hostility to expressing a desperate longing for an impartial arbiter. This verse immediately precedes his declaration of a "witness in heaven" and an "advocate on high" ([Job 16:19](/job/16-19 "Job 16:19 - Job's Heavenly Witness")), suggesting a nascent hope or an appeal to a higher court, even as he feels utterly alone and without earthly recourse. It marks a shift from purely expressing anguish to articulating a specific, albeit seemingly impossible, solution to his predicament.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, the concept of an arbiter, mediator, or "daysman" was fundamental for resolving disputes, particularly when a significant power imbalance existed or when parties could not reach an agreement. Job's plea in [Job 16:21](/job/16-21 "Job 16:21 - Job's Cry for a Mediator") deeply reflects this ingrained cultural understanding of legal and relational processes. He desires that God would engage with him not merely as an omnipotent, inscrutable sovereign, but as a party in a dispute, subject to the same principles of fairness, accessibility, and mediated justice that would govern a disagreement between human neighbors. This highlights his profound yearning for a relational and equitable form of divine justice, rather than arbitrary power.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates the theme of **human helplessness** and vulnerability before overwhelming divine power, especially when that power appears arbitrary or punitive. It underscores Job's desperate longing for **vindication** and **justice**, as he firmly believes his suffering is undeserved and seeks a means to prove his innocence before God. The verse also introduces the profound human need for **intercession** and **advocacy**, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative, from Moses interceding for Israel after the golden calf incident ([Exodus 32:11-14](/exodus/32-11-14 "Exodus 32:11-14 - Moses' Intercession for Israel")) to the prophetic calls for a righteous judge. Job's cry for a mediator serves as a poignant, albeit unwitting, foreshadowing of the ultimate divine solution to humanity's inherent separation from God, a problem deeply explored in passages like [Isaiah 59:1-2](/isaiah/59-1-2 "Isaiah 59:1-2 - Sin Separates from God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plead (Hebrew, _yâkach'_):** This verb (H3198) carries a robust and active connotation beyond simple begging or asking. It implies to argue, arbitrate, decide, contend, or even rebuke. In a legal or relational context, it means to present a case, to contend for a position, or to prove one's point. Job is not merely seeking mercy or an end to his suffering; he is demanding a fair, legal-like proceeding where his case can be presented, debated, and ultimately vindicated. This highlights his unwavering conviction of his own innocence and his desire for a just outcome from God, rather than simply an alleviation of his pain.
* **Man (Hebrew, _geber'_):** This term (H1397) refers to a valiant man, a warrior, or generally a person. In this context, it emphasizes the individual human being who is the subject of the pleading – Job himself, a man of strength and integrity, now reduced to a state of profound weakness and suffering. The use of `geber` here underscores the dignity and worth of the individual for whom an advocate is sought, even in their broken state.
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôwahh'_):** This word (H433) denotes a deity or the Deity, often used in poetic and elevated contexts for God. Job's plea is directed towards the ultimate divine authority, the one who holds absolute power and whom he perceives as his adversary. The use of `ʼĕlôwahh` emphasizes the immense, unbridgeable gap between the finite, suffering human and the infinite, seemingly unapproachable and inscrutable God, making the need for an intermediary all the more urgent and profound.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O that one might plead for a man with God":** This expresses Job's profound and desperate yearning for an intermediary, an advocate, or an arbiter. He feels utterly alone and incapable of effectively presenting his case to God, whom he perceives as his adversary. The "one" he desires is someone capable of standing between the finite, suffering human and the infinite, seemingly unapproachable God, bridging the immense gap of power and understanding, and ensuring a fair hearing for his case.
* **"as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour!":** This clause reveals Job's desire for a familiar, human standard of justice and relational interaction to be applied to his divine predicament. In ancient society, a neighborly dispute would often involve mediation or arbitration to ensure fairness and prevent escalation. Job wishes for God to engage with him on a level where his case could be heard and judged with the same impartiality and accessibility one would expect in a human legal dispute, implying a longing for God to act justly and relationally towards him, rather than with arbitrary power.

#### Literary Devices
Job 16:21 employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological weight. The primary device is **Apostrophe**, as Job directly addresses an absent or abstract entity (the desired "one") with an impassioned plea, underscoring his profound isolation and the depth of his yearning for intervention. **Simile** is central to the verse, comparing the desired divine pleading to the familiar human act of pleading for a neighbor. This comparison highlights Job's desire for a relatable, accessible form of justice from God, mirroring human legal and relational norms. The verse is imbued with **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for Job's suffering and his desperate need for vindication, as his cry is born out of intense anguish and a profound sense of injustice. Finally, there is an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as Job's cry for a mediator unknowingly foreshadows the ultimate divine Mediator, Jesus Christ, a truth far beyond his comprehension at this moment in his suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job's poignant cry for an advocate in Job 16:21 encapsulates a universal human longing for someone to bridge the chasm between finite humanity and an infinite, holy God. It speaks to the inherent human need for vindication and justice, especially when suffering appears inexplicable or unjust. Theologically, this verse highlights the profound problem of human access to God in the face of sin and perceived divine judgment, setting the stage for the ultimate biblical solution to this dilemma. It reveals a deep-seated human intuition that direct, unmediated access to God is fraught with peril, and that an intermediary is necessary for true reconciliation and understanding, particularly when one feels unjustly accused or condemned by the divine.

* [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a 'Daysman'")
* [Psalm 73](/psalm/73 "Psalm 73 - The Justice of God and the Righteous")
* [Isaiah 59:16](/isaiah/59-16 "Isaiah 59:16 - God Seeks an Intercessor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's desperate plea in Job 16:21 resonates deeply with the human experience of feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unjustly treated, whether by circumstances, others, or even a perceived divine silence. It reminds us that in our moments of profound suffering and confusion, the desire for an advocate—someone to stand in our corner, articulate our pain, and vouch for our integrity—is a fundamental human need. This verse invites us to acknowledge our own limitations in approaching God on our own terms, especially when burdened by sin, doubt, or a sense of injustice. It prompts us to consider where we place our hope for justice and vindication, and how we respond when those hopes seem unmet or when God's ways appear inscrutable. Ultimately, it directs us to the profound comfort and security found in the truth that our deepest need for an intercessor has been perfectly and eternally fulfilled in Christ, transforming our desperate cries into confident prayers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel a desperate need for an advocate or someone to plead your case, especially when facing perceived injustice or misunderstanding?**
* **How does Job's longing for a "fair hearing" with God relate to your own understanding of divine justice and your experiences of suffering or unanswered prayer?**
* **How does knowing that you have an ultimate Intercessor, Jesus Christ, impact your approach to prayer, your understanding of God's character, and your sense of accessibility to His presence?**

### FAQ
**Did Job believe in a future advocate or mediator?**

Answer: While Job expressed a profound longing for an intermediary, as seen in [Job 16:21](/job/16-21 "Job 16:21 - Job's Cry for a Mediator") and earlier in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a 'Daysman'"), his understanding of such a figure was likely rooted in the ancient Near Eastern concept of an arbiter or "daysman" who could stand between two disputing parties. He yearned for someone to bridge the gap between himself and God, to ensure a fair hearing and a just resolution to his perceived divine conflict. There's no clear indication that he had a prophetic foresight of a specific, divine-human mediator like Jesus Christ in the New Testament sense. His hope was more of a desperate, immediate need for someone to intervene in his present suffering and perceived injustice. However, his cry beautifully foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of this universal human need, even if he did not fully comprehend its future, Christological form.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry for an advocate in [Job 16:21](/job/16-21 "Job 16:21 - Job's Cry for a Mediator") finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job longed for a human standard of justice to be applied to his divine predicament, a "daysman" who could stand between him and God. Unbeknownst to him, this deep human need for an intercessor would be met by the only one capable of bridging the infinite chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity: Jesus, who is both fully God and fully man. The New Testament declares unequivocally that [there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - The One Mediator, Christ Jesus"). He is our great High Priest, who [is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Intercession"). Unlike the temporary and imperfect human arbiters Job envisioned, Christ's advocacy is eternal, perfect, and based on His atoning sacrifice. He understands our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Christ's Empathy")). When we stumble, [we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One](/1_john/2-1 "1 John 2:1 - Jesus Christ, Our Advocate"). Thus, Job's ancient, poignant plea echoes through time, pointing prophetically to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and stands eternally as our perfect, compassionate, and righteous Intercessor, ensuring our access to God and the ultimate vindication of His people.

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

Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it [is] man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Romans 9:20

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?

Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Job 23:3

Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

Job 23:7

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 40:1

¶ Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

Job 40:5

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.