Bible Strands
Job 13:3
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job speaks to his three friends and directly to God during a dispute over his suffering. He interrupts their counsel to declare his intent to confront the divine personally rather than continue their exchange.
The words — The Hebrew אֲדַבֵּר ('adaber) translates literally as "I will speak," paired with וְהוֹכֵחַ (vehokeach), meaning "and to argue" or "to contend." These verbs frame the declaration as a formal legal appeal directed to the Almighty.
The thread — The appeal to present a case before God aligns with Isaiah 41:21's command to "present your case" and parallels Job 13:22's offer to speak and receive a reply. It also stands in direct contrast to Job 9:3, which observes that a human contending with God cannot answer Him back.
Why it lands — The text explicitly records a human demanding direct access to God for a personal defense. It requires readers to abandon human mediation and prepare to face divine scrutiny without guarantee of relief.
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
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 41:21 “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
- Job 9:3 If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
- Job 13:22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
- Job 31:35 (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
- Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
- Job 9:14 How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
- Job 9:34 Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
- Job 11:5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,
- Job 13:15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
- Job 23:3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.