CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 9:30 If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/9-30.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/18_Job_09_30.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 9:30 - Job: How Can I Argue with God?" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/job/9-30.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/job/9-30.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/job/">Job</a> > <a href="/job/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 30</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad10.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/9-29.htm" title="Job 9:29">◄</a> Job 9:30 <a href="/job/9-31.htm" title="Job 9:31">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, And cleanse my hands with soap,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“If I washed myself with snow, And cleansed my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“If I were to wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Even if I washed myself with the strongest soap, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If I wash myself with lye soap and cleanse my hands with bleach, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />No soap can wash away my sins. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with lye,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />If I have washed myself with snow-water, "" And purified my hands with soap,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />If I washed myself in snow-water, and cleansed my hands clean;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean : <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />If I should wash myself with soap and cleanse my hands with lye, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />If I wash myself with soap and cleanse my hands with lye,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow why then dost thou consume me in my hands;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And if I am washed in water of snow and I am cleansed in the purity of my hands<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For if I should wash myself with snow, and purge myself with pure hands,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/9-30.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=1460" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm">Job: How Can I Argue with God?</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">29</span>Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain? <span class="reftext">30</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/7364.htm" title="7364: hiṯ·rā·ḥaṣ·tî (V-Hitpael-Perf-1cs) -- To wash, wash off or away, bathe. A primitive root; to lave.">I should wash</a> <a href="/hebrew/1119.htm" title="1119: ḇə·mō (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- In. Prolongation for prepositional prefix; in, with, by, etc.">myself</a> <a href="/hebrew/7950.htm" title="7950: šā·leḡ (N-ms) -- Snow. From shalag; snow.">with snow</a> <a href="/hebrew/2141.htm" title="2141: wa·hă·zik·kō·w·ṯî (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To be bright, clean or pure. A primitive root; to be transparent or clean.">and cleanse</a> <a href="/hebrew/3709.htm" title="3709: kap·pāy (N-fdc:: 1cs) -- Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan. From kaphaph; the hollow hand or palm; figuratively, power.">my hands</a> <a href="/hebrew/1253.htm" title="1253: bə·ḇōr (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- The same as bor; vegetable lye; used as a soap for washing, or a flux for metals.">with lye,</a> </span><span class="reftext">31</span>then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-16.htm">Isaiah 1:16</a></span><br />Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Jeremiah 2:22</a></span><br />Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Psalm 51:7</a></span><br />Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-6.htm">Isaiah 64:6</a></span><br />Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/3-3.htm">Zechariah 3:3-4</a></span><br />Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel. / So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-7.htm">1 John 1:7</a></span><br />But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/3-5.htm">Titus 3:5</a></span><br />He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-14.htm">Hebrews 9:14</a></span><br />how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-14.htm">Revelation 7:14</a></span><br />“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Matthew 23:25-26</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-2.htm">Mark 7:2-4</a></span><br />and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed. / Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. / And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-11.htm">1 Corinthians 6:11</a></span><br />And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-26.htm">Ephesians 5:26</a></span><br />to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-8.htm">John 13:8-10</a></span><br />“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” / “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” / Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/7-1.htm">2 Corinthians 7:1</a></span><br />Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/26-6.htm">Psalm 26:6</a></b></br> I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/28-13.htm">Proverbs 28:13</a></b></br> He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh <i>them</i> shall have mercy.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-16.htm">Isaiah 1:16-18</a></b></br> Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/8-6.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-22.htm">Cleanse</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-30.htm">Cleansed</a> <a href="/job/9-24.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Lye</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-30.htm">Purified</a> <a href="/exodus/24-10.htm">Purity</a> <a href="/job/6-16.htm">Snow</a> <a href="/malachi/3-2.htm">Soap</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Soda</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/4-6.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-5.htm">Washed</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-23.htm">Washing</a> <a href="/job/8-11.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/11-4.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/psalms/19-12.htm">Cleanse</a> <a href="/job/35-3.htm">Cleansed</a> <a href="/job/10-3.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-25.htm">Lye</a> <a href="/psalms/12-6.htm">Purified</a> <a href="/psalms/2-12.htm">Purity</a> <a href="/job/24-19.htm">Snow</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-25.htm">Soap</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-20.htm">Soda</a> <a href="/job/14-19.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/job/14-19.htm">Washed</a> <a href="/job/29-6.htm">Washing</a> <a href="/job/14-9.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Job 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/9-1.htm">Job acknowledges God's justice</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/9-22.htm">Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>If I should wash myself with snow</b><br>In the ancient Near East, snow was a rare and precious commodity, often associated with purity and cleansing due to its whiteness and rarity. Job's reference to washing with snow highlights the extreme measures he considers to achieve purity. This imagery underscores the futility of human efforts to attain righteousness before God. Snow is also mentioned in other scriptures, such as <a href="/isaiah/1-18.htm">Isaiah 1:18</a>, where God invites sinners to reason with Him, promising that though their sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. This connection emphasizes the divine ability to purify beyond human capability.<p><b>and cleanse my hands with lye,</b><br>Lye, a strong alkaline substance used in ancient times for cleaning and purification, symbolizes the most potent human efforts to remove impurity. In biblical symbolism, clean hands often represent innocence and righteousness (<a href="/psalms/24-4.htm">Psalm 24:4</a>). Job's use of lye signifies his desire to be seen as pure and blameless. However, the context of Job's suffering and his discourse with his friends reveals the limitations of human righteousness. This phrase echoes the broader biblical theme that true cleansing and justification come from God alone, as seen in the New Testament through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ, who cleanses believers from sin (1 <a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>The central figure in the Book of Job, a man described as blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He undergoes severe trials and questions the justice of his suffering.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The Almighty, whom Job is addressing in his discourse. Job is wrestling with understanding God's justice and his own suffering.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/snow_and_lye.htm">Snow and Lye</a></b><br>Metaphors used by Job to express the futility of trying to achieve purity or righteousness through human efforts alone.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/human_efforts_are_insufficient.htm">Human Efforts are Insufficient</a></b><br>Job's use of snow and lye symbolizes the highest human standards of purity, yet he acknowledges that even these are inadequate before God. This teaches us that self-righteousness cannot achieve true spiritual cleanliness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_divine_cleansing.htm">The Need for Divine Cleansing</a></b><br>The imagery in <a href="/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30</a> points to the necessity of God's intervention for true purification. Believers are reminded to rely on God's grace and forgiveness rather than their own efforts.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_our_position_before_god.htm">Understanding Our Position Before God</a></b><br>Job's struggle reflects a deep awareness of human limitations and sinfulness. This awareness should lead us to humility and dependence on God's mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_repentance.htm">The Role of Repentance</a></b><br>While Job feels the futility of self-cleansing, the broader biblical account encourages repentance and turning to God, who alone can cleanse us from sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">Faith in God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>Job's discourse, though filled with anguish, ultimately points to a trust in God's character. Believers are encouraged to maintain faith in God's justice and mercy, even when circumstances are challenging.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_the_12_tribes_of_israel.htm">Why did Peter walk on water?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_evil_to_reign.htm">In Job 9:24, the statement that the earth is handed over to the wicked seems to contradict God's sovereignty--why would an omnipotent God permit evil to reign?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_job_38_22_misinterpret_snow.htm">Does Job 38:22's reference to 'storehouses of snow' suggest a misunderstanding of meteorology?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_speak_to_idolater_laban.htm">In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 30.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">If I wash myself with snow-water</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/51-7.htm">Psalm 51:7</a>). If I should succeed in purging myself of all guilt, and establishing, so far as words can do it, my spotless innocence even then what advantage should I gain? Snow-water does not really cleanse what is defiled better than any other water, but a lively fancy might suppose it to do so. Job indulges in this fancy, but then checks himself, and adds a prosaic alternative. And make my hands never so clean; rather, and <span class="accented">make my hands clean with lye.</span> Lye, or potash, is the principal and most essential ingredient in soap. and the readiest and best detergent. If Job cleanses himself to the very utmost, "Cut bone?" he asks. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/9-30.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">If</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I should wash myself</span><br /><span class="heb">הִתְרָחַ֥צְתִּי</span> <span class="translit">(hiṯ·rā·ḥaṣ·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7364.htm">Strong's 7364: </a> </span><span class="str2">To wash, wash off or away, bathe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with snow</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֑לֶג</span> <span class="translit">(šā·leḡ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and cleanse</span><br /><span class="heb">וַ֝הֲזִכּ֗וֹתִי</span> <span class="translit">(wa·hă·zik·kō·w·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2141.htm">Strong's 2141: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be bright, clean or pure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my hands</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּפָּֽי׃</span> <span class="translit">(kap·pāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - fdc | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3709.htm">Strong's 3709: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with lye,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּבֹ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḇōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1253.htm">Strong's 1253: </a> </span><span class="str2">Vegetable lye, a soap for, washing, a flux for, metals</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/9-30.htm">Job 9:30 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/9-30.htm">OT Poetry: Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/9-29.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 9:29"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 9:29" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/9-31.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 9:31"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 9:31" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>