Job 9:19

KJV

If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?

KJV (with Strong's)

If I speak of strength {H3581}, lo, he is strong {H533}: and if of judgment {H4941}, who shall set {H3259} me a time to plead?

Complete Jewish Bible

If it's a matter of force, look how mighty he is; if justice, who can summon him to court?

Berean Standard Bible

If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

American Standard Version

Ifwe speakof strength, lo, he ismighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 9:19 encapsulates Job's profound despair and the overwhelming reality of God's absolute power and unchallengeable justice. In his acute suffering, Job articulates the futility of any human attempt to contend with or even comprehend the Almighty, acknowledging the infinite chasm between finite humanity and the boundless sovereignty of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Job's first response to Bildad, one of his friends, who has just offered a conventional theological explanation for Job's suffering, implying it is a direct consequence of sin. Job, however, maintains his innocence and shifts his focus from self-defense to a profound contemplation of God's immense power and inscrutable wisdom. In the preceding verses of [Job 9](/job/9 "Job 9 - Job's Response to Bildad"), Job has already marveled at God's cosmic might in creation, describing Him as the one who moves mountains, shakes the earth, and commands the stars (e.g., [Job 9:4-10](/job/9-4-10 "Job 9:4-10 - God's Unquestionable Power")). Job 9:19 serves as a lament, expressing the logical conclusion of such overwhelming divine power: if God is so strong, no human can possibly stand against Him or demand a legal hearing, regardless of their perceived righteousness. It highlights Job's deep struggle to reconcile his blamelessness with the severe trials he endures, feeling utterly outmatched by a God whose ways are beyond human comprehension and challenge.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East (ANE) context is crucial for understanding Job's lament. Legal proceedings and the concept of a "day in court" were familiar. Job's language in this verse, particularly "who shall set me a time [to plead]?", is deeply rooted in legal terminology, reflecting a desperate desire for a fair hearing or an opportunity to present his case. However, in the ANE worldview, the divine realm was often perceived as operating on a plane far beyond human jurisdiction. While some cultures had ideas of divine judgment, the notion of a human "summoning" a deity to a court of appeal was unthinkable. Job's rhetorical question underscores this cultural understanding of the vast, unbridgeable gap between human and divine authority. His suffering, interpreted by his friends through the lens of retribution theology, is being challenged by Job's experience, which points to God's sovereignty as transcending human-defined justice.
* **Key Themes:** Job 9:19 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of [God's Incomparable Power](/job/9-4 "Job 9:4 - God's Wisdom and Power"), emphasizing His absolute omnipotence and the futility of human resistance or challenge. Secondly, it highlights the [Divine Sovereignty and Unchallengeable Justice](/psalms/97-2 "Psalm 97:2 - Righteousness and Justice are the Foundation of His Throne"), portraying God's judgments as operating on a plane far beyond human understanding or accountability. Job's despair stems from the realization that there is no higher court to which he can appeal God's decrees, even when they seem inscrutable. This leads to the third theme: [Human Helplessness and Humility](/isaiah/40-15 "Isaiah 40:15 - Nations as a Drop in a Bucket"), revealing the profound limitation of humanity when confronted with God's majesty. The verse encapsulates Job's struggle with the problem of evil and suffering, where the righteous suffer, challenging conventional wisdom and forcing a deeper contemplation of God's mysterious ways, as seen in [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strength (Hebrew, _kôach'_):** This term (H3581) signifies inherent power, might, or ability. It is not merely physical strength but encompasses comprehensive, absolute power, often associated with God's creative and sustaining acts. Job understands that in any contest of might, God possesses infinite and unchallengeable _kôach_, rendering any human opposition futile.
* **Judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** The word (H4941) refers to a legal decision, justice, a verdict, or a divine decree. It implies a formal, righteous legal process and outcome. Job is not questioning God's inherent justice, but rather lamenting his inability to access or comprehend the divine court system, which operates on principles beyond human appeal.
* **Set a time (Hebrew, _yâʻad'_):** This verb (H3259) means "to appoint," "to fix a meeting," or "to summon." In a legal context, it refers to setting a court date or an appointment for a legal hearing. Job's rhetorical question emphasizes the despairing reality that no one, human or divine, can compel God to appear in court or submit to a legal challenge, highlighting God's supreme authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong":** Job concedes God's absolute and overwhelming superiority in power. This clause expresses a profound sense of futility; any attempt by Job to contend with God on the basis of might is utterly pointless. God's strength is incomparable, boundless, and beyond any human capacity to match or resist. It is an acknowledgment of divine omnipotence that leaves no room for human challenge, underscoring the vast disparity between the Creator and His creation.
* **"and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?":** This is a powerful rhetorical question that highlights the impossibility of a legal challenge against God. Job's desire for a fair hearing, a chance to present his case, is met with the crushing reality that there is no higher authority, no impartial arbiter, and no one who can summon God to a legal proceeding. This clause underscores Job's utter lack of recourse in a divine courtroom, emphasizing the unchallengeable nature of God's decrees and the vast chasm between finite human understanding and infinite divine justice.

#### Literary Devices
Job 9:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey Job's profound despair and the overwhelming reality of God's power. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "who shall set me a time [to plead]?", which is not meant to be answered but to emphasize the absolute impossibility of challenging God. This question underscores Job's helplessness and the futility of seeking legal recourse against the Almighty. There is also a clear **Antithesis** or **Contrast** established between Job's inherent weakness and God's absolute strength, and between human notions of justice and the inscrutable nature of divine judgment. The entire verse is framed by a pervasive **Legal Metaphor**, portraying Job's desire for a court case or a hearing, but ultimately concluding that such a proceeding is impossible when one's opponent is God Himself. This legal imagery vividly portrays Job's feeling of being trapped without appeal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 9:19 profoundly articulates the theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. It highlights the inherent tension between God's boundless power and humanity's finite understanding, especially in the face of suffering. While Job grapples with the seeming injustice of his situation, his words ultimately affirm that God's ways are beyond human scrutiny and challenge. This verse calls believers to a posture of humility and submission, recognizing that our limited perspective cannot fully grasp the depths of divine wisdom or the righteousness of God's judgments. It reminds us that God is not subject to human courts or appeals, but His justice, though often mysterious to us, is perfect and ultimately good.

* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Everlasting Strength"): "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."
* [Romans 9:20](/romans/9-20 "Romans 9:20 - Who Are You to Question God?"): "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?"
* [Psalm 115:3](/psalms/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - Our God is in the Heavens"): "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 9:19 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of humility before God. In a world that often seeks control and demands immediate answers, Job's lament calls us to acknowledge the vast chasm between human understanding and divine sovereignty. While we may not always comprehend the reasons for our suffering or the mysterious ways of God, this verse encourages us to trust in His supreme power and perfect justice. It invites us to surrender our need for complete understanding and to rest in the knowledge that the God who holds all strength also holds our lives. This perspective can bring profound comfort, knowing that the One who is unchallengeable is also perfectly righteous and ultimately working all things for His good purposes, even when His plan seems inscrutable to our limited minds. It teaches us to rely on His wisdom rather than our own, especially during times of trial, fostering a deeper faith that transcends circumstance and human limitation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's struggle with God's overwhelming power resonate with your own questions about suffering or divine justice?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender your desire for control or understanding to God's incomprehensible sovereignty?**
* **How can acknowledging God's absolute power lead to deeper trust rather than despair, particularly when His ways are mysterious?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 9:19 suggest that God is unjust or uncaring?**

Answer: No. Job 9:19 expresses Job's *perception* of God's unchallengeable power and justice from his limited human perspective, especially in the midst of immense suffering. It highlights the vast difference between divine and human understanding and the futility of a human trying to contend with God. Job is not accusing God of injustice, but rather lamenting his inability to comprehend or appeal God's actions. The book of Job ultimately affirms God's righteousness and wisdom, even if His ways remain mysterious to humanity (see [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1-6 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and God's Restoration")).

**How can we reconcile God's overwhelming power with His love?**

Answer: God's power, as emphasized in [Job 9:19](/job/9-19 "Job 9:19 - God's Unchallengeable Power"), is not antithetical to His love; rather, it is the very means by which His love is perfectly executed and sustained. His omnipotence ensures that His promises of love, redemption, and ultimate justice will be perfectly fulfilled. Without His absolute power, God would be unable to overcome sin, death, and evil, or to bring about His perfect plan for humanity. The cross of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of both God's power (over sin and death) and His profound love for humanity ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). His power guarantees that His love is not merely a sentiment but an active, effective force in the universe.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry in [Job 9:19](/job/9-19 "Job 9:19 - God's Unchallengeable Power") for someone to "set me a time to plead" or to stand between him and God, highlights humanity's profound need for a mediator. This longing finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Job recognized the impossibility of a human contending with an omnipotent God, the New Testament reveals that God Himself provided the solution in Christ. Jesus is the one true mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator Between God and Man")), fully God and fully man. As God, He possesses the very strength and unchallengeable judgment that Job describes. Yet, as man, He perfectly sympathizes with our weaknesses and sufferings, having experienced them Himself ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")). Through Christ, we do not approach God's throne to contend or demand a hearing, but to receive mercy and find grace in time of need ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). He is the ultimate 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")), satisfying divine justice and offering reconciliation where Job could only find despair. In Christ, the chasm between God's power and human frailty is bridged, not by human argument, but by divine grace and the perfect sacrifice of the Son.

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 9:32

For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment.

Job 9:33

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

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Job 9:4

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

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Psalms 62:11

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power [belongeth] unto God.

1 Corinthians 10:22

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?