If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he will {H2654} contend {H7378} with him, he cannot answer {H6030} him one {H259} of a thousand {H505}.
Whoever might want to argue with him could not answer him one [question] in a thousand.
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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Job 10:2
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. -
Job 40:2
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. -
Psalms 19:12
Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults]. -
Psalms 40:12
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. -
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 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. -
Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.
Job 9:3 captures Job's profound realization of human inadequacy before God's infinite wisdom and power. This verse expresses the overwhelming futility of a human attempting to argue or justify themselves against the Almighty.
Context
In this chapter, Job is responding to his friend Bildad's simplistic explanations for his suffering, particularly Bildad's insistence on divine retribution. Job acknowledges that God is supremely powerful and just, but simultaneously expresses the overwhelming difficulty for a human to *understand* or *contend* with God's ways. He recognizes that no matter how righteous a person might feel, they are utterly incapable of presenting a compelling case against God, especially when divine power is exercised. This sets the stage for Job's continued struggle with divine justice, even as he affirms God's majesty, echoing the sentiment found in Job 25:4 about man's justification before God.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "contend with him" comes from the Hebrew root riv (רִיב), which often denotes a legal dispute or a quarrel. It paints a vivid picture of a courtroom scenario where a human attempts to present a case against God. The idiom "cannot answer him one of a thousand" is a hyperbolic expression that powerfully conveys the absolute futility and overwhelming odds of such an endeavor. It implies that even if a human could find a thousand points to argue, they wouldn't be able to answer even one successfully, highlighting God's infinite knowledge and wisdom.
Practical Application
This verse calls for profound humility before God. It reminds us that we are not in a position to dictate terms to the Almighty or to fully comprehend His ways. It encourages trust in God's ultimate wisdom and justice, even when circumstances are perplexing or painful. Just as Job found, sometimes the only response to God's overwhelming power is submission and awe. Ultimately, it points to the need for God's grace rather than self-justification, as no human can stand righteous on their own merits before a holy God. This truth is foundational to the gospel message of salvation through faith in Christ, rather than through our own attempts at self-vindication.