Job 23:6

Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

Will he plead {H7378} against {H5978} me with his great {H7230} power {H3581}? No; but he would put {H7760} strength in me.

Would he browbeat me with his great power? No, he would pay attention to me.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

In Job 23:6, we encounter Job's profound and paradoxical trust in God amidst his overwhelming suffering. Having expressed a fervent desire to stand before God and present his case, Job considers how such a divine encounter might unfold.

Context

This verse is part of Job's third discourse, where he continues to lament his inexplicable suffering and expresses a deep longing to find God and argue his innocence. Job's friends have offered no comfort, only accusations and simplistic theological explanations that fail to address his unique plight. Feeling utterly misunderstood and unjustly afflicted, Job yearns for a direct audience with the Almighty, believing that if he could just present his case, God would vindicate him. His cry to find God is a recurring theme, as seen in Job 23:3, reflecting his desperate need for answers and justice.

Key Themes

  • God's Justice and Fairness: Despite the overwhelming evidence of his suffering, which might suggest God is against him, Job holds onto an underlying conviction that God is fundamentally just. He does not believe God would use His immense power to unfairly crush him in a legal dispute. This speaks to a deep, if struggling, faith in God's righteous character, contrasting with the friends' accusations.
  • The Nature of Divine Power: Job initially poses the question, "Will he plead against me with [his] great power?" acknowledging God's absolute omnipotence. However, he immediately refutes the implied fear, asserting, "No; but he would put [strength] in me." This reveals Job's hope that God's power would not be used for oppression or to silence him, but rather to empower him to articulate his defense. It reflects a nuanced understanding of divine might as both awe-inspiring and potentially enabling.
  • Human Longing for Vindication: Job desperately seeks vindication from his suffering and the accusations of his friends. His desire to argue his case before God is a cry for understanding, justice, and the clearing of his name. This reflects a universal human need to be heard and understood, especially when facing hardship or injustice.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "plead against me" comes from the Hebrew word רִיב (riv), which refers to a legal dispute, contention, or argument. It implies a courtroom setting where one party argues against another. Job imagines himself in such a divine courtroom. The latter part, "put strength in me," uses the Hebrew שִׂים כֹּחַ (sim koach), literally "to place strength." This denotes an act of impartation or empowerment, suggesting that God would grant Job the necessary courage, clarity, or resilience to present his argument effectively, rather than overwhelming him.

Related Scriptures

Job's expectation that God would grant him strength resonates with other biblical passages where God empowers His people in their weakness. For example, Isaiah 40:29 declares that God "giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Similarly, the Apostle Paul testified that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Practical Application

Job 23:6 offers profound encouragement for those facing overwhelming difficulties or feeling misunderstood by God. It reminds us that even when we feel weak and unable to articulate our pain or questions, God is not an oppressive judge but a compassionate listener who can grant us the strength to endure and even to present our honest struggles before Him. It encourages us to approach God with our laments and doubts, trusting that His ultimate desire is not to condemn but to sustain and empower us through our trials. Our confidence should be in God's character, knowing that He is just and merciful, and will provide the grace we need for each step of our journey, as Philippians 4:13 affirms, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Reflection

Job's statement in Job 23:6 is a powerful testament to enduring faith, clinging to the hope that God's true nature is righteous and enabling, even when circumstances are dire. It highlights the often-complex relationship between human suffering and divine power, asserting that God's might is ultimately directed towards justice and the strengthening of His people, not their destruction.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 9:33

    Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both.

  • Job 9:34

    Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:10

    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Job 13:21

    Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

  • Job 9:4

    [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?

  • Ezekiel 20:33

    ¶ [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

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