Job 23:5

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 23:5 encapsulates the patriarch Job’s profound and desperate yearning for a direct, personal encounter with God. Amidst his inexplicable suffering, the relentless accusations of his friends, and the perceived divine silence, Job expresses a fervent desire not merely for information, but for an intimate, experiential knowledge of God's words and a comprehensive understanding of His divine response to his plight. He longs for a clear vindication and an explanation for his agony, believing that a direct audience with the Almighty would bring clarity, resolution, and a renewed sense of divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 23:5 is situated within Job’s third and final monologue (chapters 23-24), a section where his focus shifts definitively from debating his friends to directly addressing God. Having exhausted arguments with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, Job's deep spiritual anguish intensifies his longing for a divine audience. This verse follows his poignant lament in [Job 23:3](/job/23-3 "Job 23:3 - Job's Longing to Find God"), "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" It echoes his earlier audacious desire expressed in [Job 13:3](/job/13-3 "Job 13:3 - Job's Desire to Reason with God"), "Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God." The immediate context reveals Job's profound frustration with God's hiddenness and his unwavering conviction that if he could just present his case before the divine judge, he would be justified and receive a definitive answer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, legal proceedings often involved direct confrontation between accuser and accused before a judge, with both parties presenting their cases and awaiting a verdict. Job’s repeated desire for a "hearing" or "reasoning" with God reflects this cultural framework, where he envisions himself presenting his case before the ultimate divine judge. The concept of divine justice was paramount, often linked directly to earthly prosperity or suffering. Job's situation challenges this conventional wisdom, as he experiences immense suffering despite maintaining his righteousness. His plea for God to "answer" him is rooted in the expectation that a just deity would provide clarity and vindication, especially when a righteous individual faced such profound calamity. The patriarchal setting also implies a direct, personal relationship with God, which Job deeply craves, making God's silence all the more agonizing.
* **Key Themes:** Job 23:5 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights **The Quest for Divine Communication**, portraying Job's desperate longing for God to break His silence and engage directly with him. This is not a mere intellectual curiosity but a deep spiritual need for connection and understanding in the face of overwhelming adversity. Secondly, the verse encapsulates **The Problem of Unanswered Suffering**, as Job grapples with the apparent disconnect between his blameless life and his devastating afflictions, feeling unheard and unseen by the very God he trusts. Thirdly, it underscores **Seeking Understanding, Not Just Information**, as Job desires not just "words" but to "understand what he would say," indicating a yearning for insight into God's purposes and ways, especially concerning his own plight. Finally, Job’s plea implicitly asserts **The Right to a Fair Hearing**, reflecting his conviction that he has a legitimate case and that a just God would provide an opportunity for him to present it and receive vindication, a theme foreshadowed in [Job 13:18](/job/13-18 "Job 13:18 - Job's Confidence in His Vindication").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This Hebrew verb (H3045) signifies a deep, intimate, and experiential knowledge, extending far beyond mere intellectual apprehension of facts. When Job states, "I would know the words," he is not simply desiring to hear sounds or receive information. He yearns for a profound, personal encounter with God's very utterances, to grasp their full import, and to experience the truth and reality they convey in his innermost being. It implies a desire for relational understanding and certainty regarding God's perspective on his situation, a desire to truly acknowledge and comprehend divine communication.
* **Words (Hebrew, _millâh'_):** This noun (H4405) refers to a word or, collectively, a discourse. In this context, it emphasizes the specific, articulate communication Job seeks from God. It's not a vague sense of presence, but a concrete, verbal response to his plight. Job desires God's "answer" (from `ʻânâh`, H6030), a definitive statement that would clarify his suffering and vindicate his righteousness, moving beyond the speculative "sayings" (from `ʼâmar`, H559) of his friends.
* **Understand (Hebrew, _bîyn'_):** This term (H995) denotes discernment, insight, and the ability to distinguish between things, to perceive the meaning and implications of something. Following "know the words," Job's desire to "understand what he would say" emphasizes that he seeks not just the raw data of divine speech, but the wisdom and clarity to grasp its purpose, its justice, and its relevance to his suffering. He wants to comprehend God's rationale, to see the divine logic behind his circumstances, and to gain insight into the divine will that seems so inscrutable to him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I would know the words [which] he would answer me":** This clause expresses Job's profound and desperate yearning for direct, verbal communication from God. He is not content with the interpretations or accusations of his friends, nor with general theological principles. He desires specific, personal words from God Himself, a definitive response to his cries and his perceived innocence. The use of "answer" implies a legal context, where Job expects God to address his case directly, providing the vindication or explanation he so desperately seeks, akin to a defendant awaiting a judge's verdict.
* **"and understand what he would say unto me":** This second clause deepens the first, moving beyond mere reception of words to a comprehensive grasp of their meaning and implications. Job desires not just to hear God's voice, but to discern the truth and purpose behind His words. He seeks insight into God's ways, His justice, and His plan concerning his suffering. This highlights Job's intellectual and spiritual struggle to reconcile his experience with his theology, seeking clarity and comprehension from the divine source itself, a quest for wisdom that transcends mere information.

#### Literary Devices
Job 23:5, like much of the book, is rich in literary artistry that amplifies its emotional and theological weight. The dominant device is **Lament**, as Job's entire speech is a heartfelt cry of anguish and confusion directed towards God. His words are imbued with a deep sense of pain and frustration at God's perceived silence and hiddenness, making this verse a poignant expression of his spiritual agony. The verse also employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and understand what he would say unto me") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("I would know the words [which] he would answer me"). This repetition emphasizes the depth and dual nature of Job's desire: to hear God's specific words and to grasp their profound meaning, highlighting both the intellectual and spiritual dimensions of his quest. There is also an element of profound **Irony** woven throughout the book that touches this verse; Job desperately seeks a direct, logical explanation for his suffering, but when God finally answers from the whirlwind in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind"), His response is not a direct explanation of Job's suffering, but a majestic display of divine power and wisdom that ultimately challenges Job's limited human perspective, demonstrating that God's ways are beyond human comprehension.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 23:5 resonates deeply with the universal human longing for divine communication and understanding, especially in times of profound suffering. It highlights the theological tension between God's sovereignty and His perceived hiddenness, and the human struggle to reconcile a just God with inexplicable pain. Job's desire for a direct "answer" from God underscores the biblical theme of divine-human dialogue, a relationship where God speaks and humanity responds, often with questions, laments, and pleas for clarity. This verse reminds us that honest, even challenging, prayer is a legitimate and vital form of communion with God, reflecting a profound trust that He is indeed present and capable of answering, even if His answers are not always what we expect or in the timing we desire. It affirms the human right to question God, not in defiance, but in a desperate search for meaning and vindication within a covenant relationship.

* [Job 13:3](/job/13-3 "Job's Desire to Reason with God")
* [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "God Answers Job from the Whirlwind")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's raw, unvarnished honesty in expressing his confusion, pain, and longing for answers provides a profound model for our own spiritual lives. His desperate plea in Job 23:5 invites us to bring our deepest questions, frustrations, and desires for clarity directly to God, without pretense or fear of judgment. It reminds us that authentic faith does not require us to suppress our doubts or to pretend to understand what we don't. Instead, it encourages a posture of humble yet persistent seeking, trusting that even in periods of perceived divine silence, God remains sovereign, attentive, and ultimately good. While Job yearns for an immediate, explicit answer, the ultimate trajectory of the book teaches us the importance of trusting God's character and wisdom even when His specific ways remain mysterious to us. Our spiritual growth often occurs not in the immediate receipt of explicit answers, but in the patient, faithful endurance through the silence, learning to listen for God's voice in His Word, through prayer, and in the unfolding of His providence, cultivating a deeper trust in His incomprehensible wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does Job's desperate desire for direct communication with God reveal about our own longing for divine presence and understanding in times of distress?**
* **How do we navigate periods of perceived divine silence in our lives, and what does Job's example teach us about maintaining faith during such times?**
* **What is the difference between merely "knowing" God's words and truly "understanding" what He says to us, and how can we cultivate deeper spiritual comprehension and discernment?**

### FAQ

**Why does Job want to hear from God so badly?**

Answer: Job's intense desire to hear directly from God stems from his profound and inexplicable suffering, coupled with the relentless accusations of his friends who insist his pain is due to hidden sin. He believes that if he could present his case directly to God, the ultimate Judge, he would be vindicated and receive a clear explanation for his inexplicable calamities. He feels unheard and misunderstood by both God and man, and longs for a divine "answer" that would bring clarity, justice, and an end to his spiritual and physical agony. He seeks not just comfort, but a direct encounter with the source of his suffering, believing that only God can truly explain His actions or provide the justification Job seeks, thereby restoring his honor and peace.

**Does God ever answer Job directly?**

Answer: Yes, God does eventually answer Job directly, but not in the way Job anticipates or demands. In [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind"), God speaks to Job "out of the whirlwind," a powerful and awe-inspiring manifestation of His presence. However, instead of providing a direct explanation for Job's suffering or a detailed defense of His actions, God poses a series of rhetorical questions that highlight His infinite power, wisdom, and sovereignty over creation, contrasting it with Job's limited human understanding. This divine discourse humbles Job and leads him to repentance, not for specific sins that caused his suffering, but for presuming to question God's justice and wisdom from a finite perspective, as seen in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1-6 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession").

**What does this verse teach us about suffering?**

Answer: Job 23:5 teaches us that it is natural, legitimate, and even healthy to express our deepest questions, confusion, and pain to God during suffering. Job's raw honesty validates the human experience of feeling unheard or misunderstood by God. It underscores that suffering often leads to a profound longing for divine clarity, purpose, and a sense of justice. While God may not always provide the specific answers we demand or in the timing we expect, the verse encourages persistent, honest prayer and reminds us that our ultimate desire should be for a deeper understanding of God Himself and His character, rather than merely an explanation for our circumstances. It points to the spiritual anguish that accompanies physical pain when God's presence feels distant or His ways inscrutable, yet it still encourages a faithful pursuit of divine communication.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate yearning to "know the words" God would speak and to "understand what He would say" finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Job longed for a direct, personal encounter with God's voice, a clear revelation that would bridge the chasm of his suffering and divine silence. In the New Testament, we discover that God has spoken His final and most comprehensive word in His Son. As [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son") declares, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son." Jesus is the living Word, the perfect embodiment of God's communication and character, the very Logos through whom all things were made, as described in [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God"). He is not merely a messenger, but the message itself, the one through whom God fully reveals His love, justice, and redemptive plan. Through Christ, the hiddenness Job experienced is overcome; the [Word became flesh and dwelt among us](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), making God intimately knowable and understandable. Furthermore, Jesus serves as our great High Priest and Advocate, providing the very access to God's "seat" that Job so desperately desired. Through Him, we can now [draw near with confidence to the throne of grace](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence"), knowing that our prayers are heard and that we have a Mediator who fully understands our suffering, having experienced it Himself, as articulated in [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Understands Our Weaknesses"). The direct, personal encounter Job yearned for is now a reality for all who come to God through [Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life"). He is the ultimate answer to Job's profound longing.

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

1 Corinthians 4:3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1 Corinthians 4:4

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Job 42:2

I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.

Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 13:22

Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

Job 13:23

¶ How many [are] mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Job 10:2

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