Job 9:15

KJV

Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.

KJV (with Strong's)

Whom, though I were righteous {H6663}, yet would I not answer {H6030}, but I would make supplication {H2603} to my judge {H8199}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Even if I were right, I wouldn't answer; I could only ask for mercy from my judge.

Berean Standard Bible

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

American Standard Version

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 9:15 captures Job's profound and humbling realization that, despite his unwavering conviction of personal innocence, he could never successfully engage in a legal dispute or demand an explanation from God. Faced with the Almighty's incomprehensible power, unsearchable wisdom, and transcendent justice, Job acknowledges the utter futility of attempting to justify himself or contend on equal terms. Instead, he recognizes that his only recourse before his divine Judge is to abandon any pretense of argument and humbly appeal for grace and mercy, demonstrating a deep reverence for God's unchallengeable sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 9:15 is embedded within Job's first extensive response to Bildad, one of his three friends. Bildad, echoing Eliphaz's earlier sentiments, has asserted a direct, mechanistic correlation between sin and suffering, thereby implicitly accusing Job of hidden transgressions. Job, however, is not primarily engaged in defending his innocence to his friends at this juncture. Instead, his monologue in [Job 9](/job/9 "Job 9 - Job's Struggle with God's Power") reveals his intense internal struggle with the overwhelming reality of God's immense power and inscrutable justice in the face of his inexplicable suffering. He oscillates between acknowledging God's omnipotence and creative majesty (as seen in [Job 9:4-10](/job/9-4-10 "Job 9:4-10 - God's Unsearchable Works")) and despairing over the perceived impossibility of standing before such a God to plead his case. This particular verse powerfully articulates Job's sense of an unbridgeable chasm between finite humanity and infinite Deity, rendering any human attempt to contend with God utterly futile and even presumptuous. It sets the stage for Job's later longing for a mediator in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for an Umpire").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, legal proceedings were central to societal order, often involving direct confrontation between accuser and accused before a judge. Oral argumentation, the presentation of evidence, and the eloquent articulation of one's case were paramount. Job's friends operate within this established framework, assuming God functions as a divine judge who would only punish the guilty, and thus Job must be guilty. However, Job's statement in [Job 9:15](/job/9-15 "Job 9:15 - Job's Humility Before God") radically subverts this expectation. He understands that God's justice transcends human legal frameworks and that no human, regardless of their perceived righteousness, could ever stand as an equal before the Creator of the universe. The concept of "supplication" (Hebrew: *taḥănūnîm*, derived from *chânan*) was a common and crucial practice for those seeking favor, mercy, or unmerited grace from a superior, whether a human king or a divine entity. This highlights a posture of humble dependence rather than a demand based on legal right or merit.

* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it underscores **God's Unchallengeable Sovereignty**, emphasizing that God's power, wisdom, and justice are utterly beyond human comprehension or contestation. Job recognizes that no earthly court or legal system could ever hold God accountable, nor could any human successfully contend with Him, a truth echoed in God's later pronouncements in [Job 40:1-2](/job/40-1-2 "Job 40:1-2 - God Challenges Job"). Secondly, it highlights **Human Helplessness and Humility** before the divine. Despite his steadfast belief in his own innocence regarding the specific sins his friends accuse him of, Job recognizes his utter inability to argue his case before God. His only recourse is to "make supplication," indicating a posture of humble appeal for grace rather than a demand for justice on his own terms. This deep humility contrasts sharply with the friends' confident, yet often misguided, assertions about divine justice. Finally, it touches upon **The Nature of Divine Justice**, implying that God's justice is not subject to human scrutiny or argument. Instead of a legal defense, Job's only hope is a plea for mercy or understanding from his divine Judge, acknowledging that God's ways are "great things past finding out" ([Job 9:10](/job/9-10 "Job 9:10 - God's Unsearchable Works")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Righteous (Hebrew, _tsâdaq'_):** This primitive root signifies to be (causatively, make) right in a moral or forensic sense. It encompasses concepts of being just, cleared, or justified. In Job 9:15, Job uses this term in a hypothetical sense ("though I were righteous"), not to concede guilt, but to emphasize that even if he possessed perfect, undeniable righteousness, it would still be insufficient grounds for him to engage in a legal dispute with God. His righteousness, however absolute, cannot bridge the infinite gap between creature and Creator or serve as a basis for demanding an explanation or vindication from the Almighty.
* **Answer (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** This primitive root, in its legal context, implies responding to an accusation, giving an account, or engaging in a formal defense. Job's resolute refusal to "answer" signifies his profound recognition that a legal contest with God is not only futile but presumptuous. He understands that even if he could present a flawless case, God's nature, power, and wisdom are so immense that such an attempt would be meaningless and disrespectful. It represents a surrender of the legal battle before it even begins, acknowledging the impossibility of holding God accountable to human standards or processes.
* **Supplication (Hebrew, _chânan'_):** This primitive root means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; or causatively, to implore (i.e., move to favor by petition). When Job states he would "make supplication," he is choosing a posture of humble entreaty and appeal for mercy or unmerited favor. This stands in stark contrast to "answering" in a legal sense. Job's choice indicates a shift from a posture of defense or argument to one of humble dependence. It signifies his understanding that his standing before God is not one of equal parties in a court, but of a petitioner before a sovereign ruler, seeking compassion and grace rather than demanding justice based on his own merit.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Whom, though I were righteous":** This opening clause presents a powerful hypothetical scenario. The "Whom" refers to God, the ultimate Judge. Job is not conceding guilt; rather, he is asserting his innocence ("righteous") even in this extreme, imagined circumstance. This phrase sets up the profound paradox: even with a perfect, unassailable case of blamelessness, Job understands the utter impossibility and impropriety of a legal confrontation with God. It underscores the infinite qualitative difference between humanity and the Divine.
* **"[yet] would I not answer":** Following the hypothetical assertion of righteousness, Job states his resolute refusal to engage in a legal defense. The KJV's "[yet]" correctly captures the stark contrast. Job's decision not to "answer" is not born of fear of being proven wrong, but from an awe-filled recognition of God's transcendent nature and power. To "answer" God in a courtroom sense would imply equality or the ability to hold God accountable, which Job understands to be absurd and irreverent. His silence is an act of profound humility.
* **"[but] I would make supplication to my judge":** This final clause reveals Job's chosen posture and his only recourse. Instead of a legal argument or defense, his only hope is humble "supplication." The conjunction "[but]" highlights the decisive shift from confrontation to humble appeal. By calling God "my judge," Job acknowledges God's rightful authority, sovereign power, and ultimate prerogative to render judgment. Yet, simultaneously, he expresses a hope for divine favor or mercy, recognizing that his ultimate hope lies not in his own ability to justify himself, but in God's character and compassion.

#### Literary Devices
Job 9:15 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's profound spiritual insight. **Contrast** is central to the verse, juxtaposing the act of "answering" (engaging in a legal defense) with "making supplication" (humbly appealing for mercy). This highlights Job's profound shift from a position of potential argument to one of absolute dependence and reverence before God. The verse also utilizes **Hyperbole** in Job's hypothetical scenario: "though I were righteous." While Job steadfastly believes he is righteous, the use of this strong phrasing emphasizes the extreme nature of his humility and the absolute impossibility of standing before God, even under the most ideal human circumstances, implying that even perfect human righteousness is insufficient to contend with divine perfection. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a **Courtroom Metaphor**, with God implicitly cast as the "judge" and Job as a potential defendant. However, Job subverts the typical courtroom drama by refusing to play the part of the defendant who argues his case, instead choosing the role of a petitioner seeking an unmerited favor, thereby elevating God's sovereignty above any human legal framework.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 9:15 is a profound theological statement on the infinite qualitative difference between God and humanity. It underscores the biblical truth that no human being, regardless of their moral standing or perceived innocence, can ever truly justify themselves before the perfectly righteous, omnipotent, and sovereign Creator. Job's choice of "supplication" over "answering" reveals a deep theological insight: humanity's proper posture before God is one of humility, dependence, and an appeal to divine grace, not a demand for justice based on perceived merit or an attempt to hold God accountable. This verse anticipates the New Testament understanding of justification by grace through faith, as it highlights the utter futility of self-righteousness in the face of divine perfection. It teaches us that true peace and hope in suffering come not from understanding all of God's ways or demanding explanations, but from trusting His character and appealing to His boundless compassion.

* [Psalm 143:2](/psalms/143-2 "Psalm 143:2 - No One Justified Before God")
* [Isaiah 45:9](/isaiah/45-9 "Isaiah 45:9 - Woe to Him Who Strives with His Maker")
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - No One Justified by Law")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 9:15 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today, particularly in times of trial, suffering, or perceived injustice. It challenges our innate human tendency to demand answers from God, to question His ways, or even to feel that we have a right to "argue" our case before Him. Job's posture of humble supplication, even when he believes himself to be righteous, serves as a powerful model of spiritual maturity. It reminds us that our relationship with God is not a legalistic transaction based on our performance or understanding, but a covenant of grace rooted in His sovereign mercy and unfathomable wisdom. Instead of striving to justify ourselves, comprehend every detail of His providence, or control outcomes, we are called to a posture of profound reverence and dependence, trusting that His wisdom and goodness far exceed our limited comprehension. This verse encourages us to lay down our arguments, anxieties, and self-justifications at the foot of His throne, appealing not to our own merits, but to His boundless compassion, finding true peace and hope in surrendering to His unchallengeable authority and loving will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's refusal to "answer" God, even if righteous, challenge our own tendency to demand explanations or justification from God during suffering or perceived injustice?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you find yourself trying to "argue" with God, rather than humbly making "supplication" to Him for grace and guidance?**
* **What does it mean practically to "make supplication" to God in your daily life, especially when facing difficult circumstances where answers are elusive or desired outcomes are not realized?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 9:15 imply that Job believes he is not righteous, or that righteousness is irrelevant before God?**

Answer: No, Job 9:15 does not imply that Job believes he is not righteous. In fact, the phrase "Whom, though I were righteous" (KJV) or "even if I were innocent" (NIV) is a powerful hypothetical statement that underscores Job's conviction of his own blamelessness concerning the specific sins his friends accuse him of. The profound point Job is making is that even with perfect, undeniable righteousness, he would still not presume to engage in a legal dispute with God. His righteousness, in his view, is not irrelevant in an absolute sense, but it is rendered irrelevant as a basis for demanding justice or argument in the face of God's overwhelming majesty and unchallengeable sovereignty. It highlights the vast, infinite gap between creature and Creator, where human righteousness, however pure, cannot serve as a basis for demanding vindication from God, but only for seeking His mercy through humble supplication.

**What is the practical difference between "answering" and "supplicating" in the context of Job 9:15?**

Answer: The practical difference between "answering" and "supplicating" in Job 9:15 is one of fundamental posture, expectation, and relationship. To "answer" in this context implies engaging in a legal defense, presenting evidence, and arguing one's case before a judge, with the expectation of a verdict based on merit or legal right. It's a posture of demanding justice or vindication based on one's own perceived innocence or adherence to the law. Job realizes that such a posture is impossible, inappropriate, and ultimately futile when dealing with God, who is the supreme and unchallengeable Judge. To "make supplication," on the other hand, is to humbly entreat, plead for favor, or appeal for mercy from a superior. It's a posture of dependence, acknowledging one's subordinate position and relying entirely on the grace, compassion, and unmerited favor of the one petitioned. Job understands that before God, his only true hope lies in humble appeal, not in any perceived right to argue his case, even if he were perfectly innocent. This decisive shift from demanding to appealing is central to Job's profound spiritual insight in [Job 9:15](/job/9-15 "Job 9:15 - Job's Humility Before God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's profound realization in [Job 9:15](/job/9-15 "Job 9:15 - Job's Humility Before God")—that even perfect human righteousness is insufficient to stand before God in judgment, necessitating humble supplication—finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job, in his despair, longed for a mediator, an "umpire" ([Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator")) who could bridge the infinite chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity, laying a hand on both. This longing is perfectly met in Christ, who is "the one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" ([1_timothy/2-5](/1-timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator Between God and Man")). While Job could only *imagine* a righteousness that would still fall short before God's majesty, Christ *is* the perfectly righteous Son of God, who, by taking on human flesh, lived a life of sinless obedience and offered Himself as the perfect, atoning sacrifice for sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")). Through His atoning work on the cross, the chasm between God and humanity, which Job so acutely felt, is bridged. We no longer approach God based on our own flawed righteousness or futile arguments, but through Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to us by faith ([Romans 5:1](/romans/5-1 "Romans 5:1 - Justification by Faith")). Thus, Job's posture of "supplication" is transformed from a desperate plea for unmerited favor into a confident approach to the "throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")), all made possible by our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who continually intercedes for us before the Father ([1_john/2-1](/1_john/2-1 "1 John 2:1 - Christ Our Advocate")).

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

Job 10:15

If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

Job 8:5

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

Job 22:27

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Job 5:8

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

1 Peter 2:23

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

Job 10:2

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

1 Corinthians 4:4

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