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Selected Verse: Job 9:19 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Job 9:19	Strong Concordance	If I speak of strength [03581], lo, he is strong [0533]: and if of judgment [04941], who shall set [03259] me a time to plead?
	King James	If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
UMBREIT takes these as the words of God, translating, "What availeth the might of the strong?" "Here (saith he) behold! what availeth justice? Who will appoint me a time to plead?" (So Jer 49:19). The last words certainly apply better to God than to Job. The sense is substantially the same if we make "me" apply to Job. The "lo!" expresses God's swift readiness for battle when challenged.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

UMBREIT takes these as the words of God, translating, "What availeth the might of the strong?" "Here (saith he) behold! what availeth justice? Who will appoint me a time to plead?" (So Jer 49:19). The last words certainly apply better to God than to Job. The sense is substantially the same if we make "me" apply to Job. The "lo!" expresses God's swift readiness for battle when challenged.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - There has been a considerable variety in the interpretation of this passage. The meaning seems to be this. It refers to a judicial contest, and Job is speaking of the effect if he and God were to come to a trial, and the cause were to be settled before judges. He is urging reasons why he would have no hope of success in such a case. He says, therefore, "If the matter pertained only to strength, or if it were to be determined by strength, lo, he is more mighty than I am, and I could have no hope of success in such a controversy: and if the controversy was one of judgment, that is, of justice or right, I have no one to manage my cause - no one that could cope with him in the pleadings - no one who could equal him in setting forth my arguments, or presenting my side of the case. It would, therefore, be wholly an unequal contest, where I could have no hope of success; and I am unwilling to engage in such a controversy or trial with God. My interest, my duty, and the necessity of the case, require me to submit the case without argument, and I will not attempt to plead with my Maker." That there was a lack of right feeling in this, must be apparent to all. There was evidently the secret belief that God had dealt with him severely; that he had gone beyond his deserts in indicting pain on him, and that he was under a necessity of submitting not so much to justice and right as to mere power and sovereignty. But who has not had something of this feeling when deeply afflicted? And yet who, when he has had it, has not felt that it was far from being what it should be? Our feeling should be, "we deserve all that we suffer, and more than we have yet endured. God is a sovereign; but He is right. Though he afflicts us much, and others little, yet it is not because he is unjust, but because he sees that there is some good reason why we should suffer. That reason may be seen yet by us, but if not, we should never doubt that it exists." Who shall set me a time to plead? - Noyes renders this, "Who shall summon me to trial?" Dr. Good, "Who should become a witness for me?" The sense is, "Who would summon witnesses for me? If it was a mere trial of strength, God is too mighty for me; if it were a question of justice, who would compel witnesses to come on my side? Who could make them willing to appear against God, and to bear testimony for me in a controversy with the Almighty?"

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - There has been a considerable variety in the interpretation of this passage. The meaning seems to be this. It refers to a judicial contest, and Job is speaking of the effect if he and God were to come to a trial, and the cause were to be settled before judges. He is urging reasons why he would have no hope of success in such a case. He says, therefore, "If the matter pertained only to strength, or if it were to be determined by strength, lo, he is more mighty than I am, and I could have no hope of success in such a controversy: and if the controversy was one of judgment, that is, of justice or right, I have no one to manage my cause - no one that could cope with him in the pleadings - no one who could equal him in setting forth my arguments, or presenting my side of the case. It would, therefore, be wholly an unequal contest, where I could have no hope of success; and I am unwilling to engage in such a controversy or trial with God. My interest, my duty, and the necessity of the case, require me to submit the case without argument, and I will not attempt to plead with my Maker." That there was a lack of right feeling in this, must be apparent to all.

There was evidently the secret belief that God had dealt with him severely; that he had gone beyond his deserts in indicting pain on him, and that he was under a necessity of submitting not so much to justice and right as to mere power and sovereignty. But who has not had something of this feeling when deeply afflicted? And yet who, when he has had it, has not felt that it was far from being what it should be? Our feeling should be, "we deserve all that we suffer, and more than we have yet endured. God is a sovereign; but He is right. Though he afflicts us much, and others little, yet it is not because he is unjust, but because he sees that there is some good reason why we should suffer. That reason may be seen yet by us, but if not, we should never doubt that it exists."

Who shall set me a time to plead? - Noyes renders this, "Who shall summon me to trial?" Dr. Good, "Who should become a witness for me?" The sense is, "Who would summon witnesses for me? If it was a mere trial of strength, God is too mighty for me; if it were a question of justice, who would compel witnesses to come on my side? Who could make them willing to appear against God, and to bear testimony for me in a controversy with the Almighty?"

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
If - If my cause were to be decided by power. Is Strong - Stronger than I. Judgment - If I would contend with him in a way of right. Who - There is no superior judge that can summon him and me together.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong - Human wisdom, power, and influence avail nothing before him. Who shall set me a time - מי יועידני mi yoideni, "Who would be a witness for me?" or, Who would dare to appear in my behalf? Almost all the terms in this part of the speech of Job, Job 9:11-24, are forensic or juridical, and are taken from legal processes and pleadings in their gates or courts of justice.

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¹⁹ Behold, he shall come up [05927] like a lion [0738] from the swelling [01347] of Jordan [03383] against the habitation [05116] of the strong [0386]: but I will suddenly [07280] make him run away [07323] from her: and who is a chosen [0977] man, that I may appoint [06485] over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time [03259]? and who is that shepherd [07462] that will stand [05975] before [06440] me?

¹¹ Lo, he goeth [05674] by me, and I see [07200] him not: he passeth on [02498] also, but I perceive [0995] him not.
¹² Behold, he taketh away [02862], who can hinder [07725] him? who will say [0559] unto him, What doest [06213] thou?
¹³ If God [0433] will not withdraw [07725] his anger [0639], the proud [07293] helpers [05826] do stoop [07817] under him.
¹⁴ How much less shall I answer [06030] him, and choose out [0977] my words [01697] to reason with him?
¹⁵ Whom, though I were righteous [06663], yet would I not answer [06030], but I would make supplication [02603] to my judge [08199].
¹⁶ If I had called [07121], and he had answered [06030] me; yet would I not believe [0539] that he had hearkened [0238] unto my voice [06963].
¹⁷ For he breaketh [07779] me with a tempest [08183], and multiplieth [07235] my wounds [06482] without cause [02600].
¹⁸ He will not suffer [05414] me to take [07725] my breath [07307], but filleth [07646] me with bitterness [04472].
¹⁹ If I speak of strength [03581], lo, he is strong [0533]: and if of judgment [04941], who shall set [03259] me a time to plead?
²⁰ If I justify [06663] myself, mine own mouth [06310] shall condemn [07561] me: if I say, I am perfect [08535], it shall also prove me perverse [06140].
²¹ Though I were perfect [08535], yet would I not know [03045] my soul [05315]: I would despise [03988] my life [02416].
²² This is one [0259] thing, therefore I said [0559] it, He destroyeth [03615] the perfect [08535] and the wicked [07563].
²³ If the scourge [07752] slay [04191] suddenly [06597], he will laugh [03932] at the trial [04531] of the innocent [05355].
²⁴ The earth [0776] is given [05414] into the hand [03027] of the wicked [07563]: he covereth [03680] the faces [06440] of the judges [08199] thereof; if not, where [0645], and who is he?