Bible Strands
Job 9:15
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Job speaks to God in a monologue describing the impossibility of mounting a successful legal defense. He addresses his situation at the moment of concluding that human righteousness cannot force a response from the divine Judge.
The words — The verse hinges on אֵתְחַנָּן ('et.cha.nan), literally "I will seek favor," and צָדַקְתִּי (tza.dak.ti), literally "I am righteous." Job immediately pairs the claim of righteousness with לֹא אֶעֱנֶה (lo' 'e'e.neh), "I will not answer."
The thread — The text's assertion that righteousness yields no defensive advantage runs parallel to Job 10:15, where Job states that even being right leaves him full of shame. The directive to abandon argument and seek divine favor echoes the counsel in Job 5:8 and Job 8:5.
Why it lands — The text states that human standing before God cannot be secured through argument or moral credit. It asks the reader to abandon self-justification and accept that only mercy can bridge the gap between the accused and the Judge.
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
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
Cross-references
- Job 10:15 If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.
- Job 8:5 But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
- Job 5:8 However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—
- Job 10:2 I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.
- Job 22:27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
- 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- 1 Kings 8:38 then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
- 2 Chronicles 33:13 And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
- Job 23:7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
- Job 34:31 Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.