Job 9:32

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

For he is not a man {H376}, as I am, that I should answer {H6030} him, and we should come {H935} together {H3162} in judgment {H4941}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"For he is not merely human like me; there is no answer that I could give him if we were to come together in court.

Berean Standard Bible

For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 9:32 powerfully expresses Job's profound and desperate realization of the insurmountable chasm between himself, a finite and suffering mortal, and the infinite, sovereign God. This verse articulates the sheer futility and impossibility of a human being contending with the Almighty in a legal dispute, highlighting Job's overwhelming sense of being utterly outmatched and unable to present a defense against a Being whose ways are beyond human comprehension or challenge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Job's intricate and deeply anguished response to his friends, particularly following Bildad's rigid and unyielding assertion of God's perfect justice (Job 8). While Job readily acknowledges God's omnipotence and inscrutable wisdom, as articulated in [Job 9:1-12](/job/9-1-12 "Job 9:1-12 - God's Power and Wisdom"), he wrestles profoundly with reconciling this divine majesty with his own seemingly undeserved suffering. He feels utterly overwhelmed by God's immense power, lamenting that even if he were innocent, he could not effectively "answer" God or present a compelling defense ([Job 9:14-20](/job/9-14-20 "Job 9:14-20 - Job's Inability to Argue with God")). Job 9:32 specifically crystallizes his conviction that God is not a peer with whom he could engage in a fair or equal legal contest. This profound sense of divine-human disparity immediately precedes his desperate plea for a mediator or "daysman" in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Plea for a Mediator"), underscoring the escalating tension in Job's theological struggle.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East (ANE) possessed well-established legal systems where disputes were typically resolved through public debate, the presentation of testimony, and the ultimate judgment rendered by an elder, a judge, or the king. Job's language throughout his discourse consistently draws upon this familiar legal framework, imagining himself in a courtroom scenario. However, the prevailing cultural understanding of divine power and transcendence in the ANE dictated that a human could never stand as an equal before a deity. Deities were perceived as inherently superior, their justice often inscrutable, and their power absolute and unquestionable. Job's lament in this verse powerfully reflects this cultural understanding of the vast, unbridgeable divide between the human and the divine, where any attempt to "answer" or "come together in judgment" with God would be regarded as an act of utter presumption and futility, akin to a commoner attempting to sue the king without the indispensable presence of an intercessor.
* **Key Themes:** Job 9:32 makes a profound contribution to several overarching themes that permeate the book of Job. It emphatically underscores **Divine Transcendence**, portraying God as utterly distinct from and infinitely superior to humanity, not bound by human limitations, expectations, or legal frameworks. This highlights **Human Impotence and Insignificance** in the face of divine majesty, as Job acutely feels his inability to justify himself or contend with God on any equitable terms. The verse also implicitly introduces and intensifies the **Problem of Suffering** as it relates to divine justice; Job's inability to comprehend or challenge God's actions concerning his affliction leads to profound despair. Most significantly, this verse serves as a crucial theological setup for the pivotal theme of the **Need for a Mediator**. Job's poignant recognition that he cannot directly approach God for a fair hearing creates an intense longing for an arbiter, a "daysman," who could stand between them. This longing finds its ultimate theological resolution in the New Testament's presentation of Jesus Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity, as powerfully articulated in passages like [1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - The One Mediator").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Man (Hebrew, _ʼîysh'_):** From H376, this term refers to a human being, emphasizing mortality, frailty, and limited capacity. By stating God is "not a man, as I am," Job highlights God's incomparable and transcendent nature, free from the limitations, weaknesses, and fallibility inherent in humanity. It underscores the qualitative difference between the Creator and the created, asserting God's absolute otherness and superiority.
* **Answer (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** From H6030, in a legal context, this word signifies responding to an accusation, presenting a defense, or engaging in a legal argument. Job's use of "answer him" conveys his profound sense that he cannot adequately defend his case or offer a satisfactory rebuttal to God's implied accusations (or even God's inscrutable actions) because God operates on a plane entirely beyond human challenge or comprehension.
* **Judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** From H4941, this word properly refers to a verdict pronounced judicially, a sentence, or a formal decree. It encompasses the act of judging, the place of judgment, the suit itself, and the concept of justice. In the phrase "come together in judgment," Job imagines a legal proceeding where he would stand before God. However, he immediately recognizes the impossibility of such a confrontation, as there is no common ground or equal footing for a legal contest between a finite, sinful human and an infinite, perfectly righteous God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he is not a man, as I am":** This opening clause establishes the fundamental premise of Job's despair: the absolute qualitative difference between God and humanity. God is not subject to human limitations, emotions, or legal frameworks. He is not a peer with whom one can negotiate or contend on equal terms. This highlights God's divine transcendence and Job's profound sense of his own creaturely weakness, mortality, and inherent inability to stand before such an incomparable Being.
* **"that I should answer him":** Following directly from the first clause, this phrase expresses the practical impossibility of a legal defense. Because God is not a man, Job cannot "answer" Him in the way one would answer another human in a dispute. There is no common language of justice, no shared understanding of right and wrong, and no equitable ground that would allow for a fair exchange of arguments. This leaves Job utterly speechless, defenseless, and without recourse in his own eyes.
* **"and we should come together in judgment":** This final clause articulates the ultimate futility of the desired confrontation. The idea of "coming together in judgment" implies a formal legal proceeding where both parties present their case before an impartial judge. Job recognizes that such a scenario is impossible with God, as God Himself is the ultimate Judge, the supreme authority from whom there is no appeal. There is no basis for a human to stand as an equal litigant before Him, rendering any attempt at a legal contest utterly meaningless and futile.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's profound despair and theological understanding. **Contrast** is central, starkly juxtaposing the infinite, transcendent nature of God with the finite, frail humanity of Job. This contrast underscores the insurmountable gap between them, emphasizing God's absolute otherness. The entire verse functions as a **Statement of Impossibility**, using a negative assertion ("he is not a man... that I should answer him") to convey the utter futility of Job's desire for a direct confrontation or legal dispute. Furthermore, the language is deeply steeped in **Legal Metaphor**, framing Job's predicament as a courtroom drama where he is the accused, God is the prosecutor and ultimate judge, and Job finds himself utterly unable to present a defense or even stand on equal footing for a fair trial. This pervasive legal imagery amplifies Job's sense of being condemned without recourse or hope of vindication.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 9:32 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God and humanity. It underscores the absolute sovereignty and transcendence of God, who is utterly distinct from His creation and not bound by human expectations, limitations, or legal frameworks. This divine otherness highlights the inherent sinfulness and finite nature of humanity, reminding us that no human being can stand righteous before a holy God on their own merits or through their own arguments. Job's lament foreshadows the universal human predicament: how can sinful humanity approach a perfectly just and holy God? This verse implicitly points to the desperate need for a divine intervention, a bridge across this chasm, which ultimately finds its glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher"): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - No Justification by Law"): "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
* [Psalm 130:3](/psalms/130-3 "Psalm 130:3 - Who Can Stand Before God's Iniquities?"): "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 9:32 resonates deeply with the human experience of feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, and utterly helpless in the face of seemingly unjust suffering or an inscrutable God. It calls us to a posture of profound humility before the Creator, acknowledging His infinite wisdom, power, and justice, which far surpass our limited understanding and capacity for comprehension. While Job felt utterly alone and without recourse, his poignant cry for a mediator in the very next verse ([Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator")) points to a universal human longing for reconciliation with God. For believers today, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of the immense privilege we have in Christ. Unlike Job, we are not left to despair in the face of God's transcendence, but are invited to approach Him with confidence, knowing that the chasm has been perfectly bridged. Our righteousness is not our own, but a gracious gift received through faith in Christ, allowing us to stand before God not in fear of judgment, but in the boundless grace of His Son.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's lament about God's transcendence challenge our own assumptions about how God should operate or be understood, particularly in times of suffering?**
* **In what ways might we, like Job, sometimes try to "contend" with God based on our limited human understanding of justice or fairness, rather than trusting His sovereign plan?**
* **How does the realization that we cannot "answer" God on our own terms lead us to a deeper appreciation for the grace and perfect mediation offered exclusively in Christ?**

### FAQ

**What does Job mean when he says God is "not a man, as I am"?**

Answer: Job is emphasizing the absolute qualitative difference between God and humanity. God is not limited by human frailties, mortality, or finite understanding. He is transcendent, omnipotent, and perfectly righteous, operating on a plane entirely beyond human comprehension or challenge. Job recognizes that he cannot engage with God as he would with another human being in a legal dispute because God is infinitely superior and not subject to human laws or judgments. This statement underscores God's divine otherness and Job's profound sense of his own creaturely weakness.

**What is the significance of the phrase "come together in judgment"?**

Answer: This phrase is a legal idiom meaning "to enter into a lawsuit" or "to contend in a court case." Job imagines a scenario where he could present his case and argue his innocence before God. However, he immediately realizes the impossibility of such a confrontation. There is no common ground, no impartial judge higher than God, and no way for a finite, sinful human to stand as an equal litigant before the infinite, holy God. It highlights the utter futility of trying to justify oneself or win a case before the Almighty.

**Does Job 9:32 imply that humans cannot approach God at all?**

Answer: No, it implies that humans cannot approach God on their own terms, attempting to justify themselves or contend with Him as an equal. Job's despair highlights the desperate need for a mediator, as expressed in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator"). While we cannot stand before God in our own righteousness, the New Testament reveals that we can indeed approach God through the perfect mediation of Jesus Christ, who bridges the gap between humanity and divinity, allowing us to draw near with confidence ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). Our access is not based on our merit, but on Christ's finished work.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry in [Job 9:32](/job/9-32 "Job 9:32 - Job's Inability to Contend with God"), and his subsequent longing in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Plea for a Mediator") for a "daysman"—someone who could lay a hand on both God and humanity, bridging the infinite chasm—finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Job's lament underscores the universal human predicament: how can a finite, sinful human stand before a holy, transcendent God? The answer, as Job himself perceived, is that no mere human can. But God, in His boundless love and mercy, provided the divine solution in Christ. Jesus is uniquely qualified as the one and only [mediator between God and mankind](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - The One Mediator, Christ Jesus"), being both fully God and fully man. He is the divine-human bridge, able to "lay his hand on both" by perfectly representing humanity before God and perfectly revealing God to humanity. Unlike Job, who had no advocate and faced God alone, believers now have an [advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous](/1_john/2-1 "1 John 2:1 - Jesus Our Advocate"). Through His perfect life, atoning sacrifice on the cross, and glorious resurrection, Christ took upon Himself the judgment we deserved, allowing us to be declared righteous in God's sight not by our own works, but by faith in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, the impossibility Job faced—of coming together in judgment with God—is now transformed into an invitation to draw near to God's throne of grace with confidence, because of the finished work of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus Our High Priest")). He is the "way, the truth, and the life," and no one comes to the Father except through Him ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, The Way, Truth, and Life")).

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

Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it [is] man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

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?

Psalms 143:2

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Numbers 23:19

God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 John 3:20

¶ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Isaiah 45:9

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?