Job 23:9

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Job speaks to God during a prolonged season of suffering, describing his exhaustive search for divine presence and justice after his companions have withdrawn.

The words — The Hebrew שְׂמֹאול (se.Mol) literally means the left side, while יָמִין (ya.Min) literally means the right side, functioning as directional markers for God's movements.

The thread — The theme of divine hiddenness appears in Psalm 89:46 and Isaiah 8:17, where the writers record God concealing His face and ask how long this withdrawal will last.

Why it lands — The verse states that human direction cannot locate God, requiring the reader to accept sensory limitation and submit to God's sovereign knowledge rather than demand visible proof.

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

שְׂמֹ֣אולse.Mol[the] left [side]בַּעֲשֹׂת֣וֹba./'a.so.T/owhen/ acts/ he וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not אָ֑חַז'A.chazI see [him]יַעְטֹ֥ףya'.Tofhe turns יָ֝מִ֗יןya.Min[the] right [side]וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not אֶרְאֶֽה׃'er.'EhI see [him]

King James Version

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Cross-references

Psalms 89:46 How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire?
Isaiah 8:17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.