Bible Strands
Job 16:21
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job addresses his three friends who have turned against him, speaking from the brink of death while his eyes weep directly to God.
The words — The Hebrew יוֹכַח (yo.Khach) translates literally as "he may argue" or "plead," paired with לְגֶבֶר (le.Gever, "for a man") and לְרֵעֵהוּ (le.re'ehu, "to his companion").
The thread — This motif of human limitation before the divine appears in Ecclesiastes 6:10, Isaiah 45:9, and Romans 9:20, which all describe the futility of mortals contending with their Creator.
Why it lands — The text establishes that direct, equal negotiation with God is structurally impossible, demanding the reader abandon claims of forensic parity and accept divine authority without demanding reciprocal accountability.
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
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
Cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
- Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
- Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
- Job 9:34 Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
- Job 13:3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
- Job 13:22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
- Job 23:3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
- 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.
- Job 40:1 And the LORD said to Job: