Bible Strands
Job 10:14
If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job speaks to God while cataloging his affliction, immediately after accusing the Divine of secretly plotting judgment against him.
The words — חָטָ֥אתִי (cha.Ta.ti) means "I sinned," and תְנַקֵּֽ/נִי (te.na.Ke./ni) means "you will acquit me." These terms anchor the verse’s conditional structure.
The thread — The motif of divine record-keeping versus pardon runs through Job 7:21, where Job pleads for transgression removal before death, and Psalms 130:3, which questions who could endure if God tracked every iniquity. Exodus 34:7 provides the contrasting claim that God forgives iniquity and transgression.
Why it lands — The text asserts that divine observation of sin guarantees condemnation, leaving no mechanism for human acquittal. It requires the reader to accept that Job’s argument hinges on the premise that strict divine accounting nullifies any possibility of defense or mercy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
Cross-references
- Job 7:21 Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
- Psalms 130:3 If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
- Exodus 34:7 maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
- Numbers 14:18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’
- Job 9:28 I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
- Job 13:26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
- Psalms 139:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- Job 14:16 For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.