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 9:14 How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/9-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/18_Job_09_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 9:14 - Job: How Can I Argue with God?" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?" /><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/9-14.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/9-14.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 14</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="/ad14.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/9-13.htm" title="Job 9:13">◄</a> Job 9:14 <a href="/job/9-15.htm" title="Job 9:15">►</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 />&#8220How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, <i>and</i> choose out my words <i>to reason</i> with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“How then can I answer Him, <i>And</i> choose my words <i>to reason</i> with Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“How then can I answer Him, <i>And</i> choose my words before Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“How then can I answer Him, <i>And</i> choose my words before Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />How then can I answer Him, <i>And</i> choose my words before Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“How can I answer Him [and plead my case], Choosing my words [to reason] with Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />How, then, could I possibly argue my case with God? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"How can I possibly answer God? How can I find the right words [to speak] with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So how can I find words to answer God? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> How much less do I -- I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer him, shall I choose my words with him?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />How then could I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I will answer him also, and choose out my words in his presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Also I shall answer him and I shall set my words in order before him<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />How much less shall I answer Him, And choose out my arguments with Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Oh then that he would hearken to me, or judge my cause.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/9-14.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=1360" 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">13</span>God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/637.htm" title="637: ’ap̄ (Conj) -- Also, yea. A primitive particle; meaning accession; also or yea; adversatively though.">How</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">then</a> <a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">can I</a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: ’e·‘ĕ·nen·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- To answer, respond.">answer Him</a> <a href="/hebrew/977.htm" title="977: ’eḇ·ḥă·rāh (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cs) -- To choose. A primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. select.">or choose</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: ḏə·ḇā·ray (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">my arguments</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·mōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">against Him?</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.…<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/40-17.htm">Isaiah 40:17-18</a></span><br />All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness. / To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20</a></span><br />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?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Isaiah 45:9</a></span><br />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’?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/8-4.htm">Psalm 8:4</a></span><br />what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:10</a></span><br />Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-8.htm">Isaiah 64:8</a></span><br />But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-33.htm">Romans 11:33-34</a></span><br />O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/144-3.htm">Psalm 144:3-4</a></span><br />O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him? / Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-25.htm">1 Corinthians 1:25</a></span><br />For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a></span><br />“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/39-5.htm">Psalm 39:5</a></span><br />You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a></span><br />The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/143-2.htm">Psalm 143:2</a></span><br />Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-24.htm">1 Peter 1:24</a></span><br />For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/90-3.htm">Psalm 90:3-4</a></span><br />You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.” / For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?</p><p class="hdg">How much</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/4-19.htm">Job 4:19</a></b></br> How much less <i>in</i> them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation <i>is</i> in the dust, <i>which</i> are crushed before the moth?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/25-6.htm">Job 25:6</a></b></br> How much less man, <i>that is</i> a worm? and the son of man, <i>which is</i> a worm?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/8-27.htm">1 Kings 8:27</a></b></br> But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?</p><p class="hdg">shall I</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/11-4.htm">Job 11:4,5</a></b></br> For thou hast said, My doctrine <i>is</i> pure, and I am clean in thine eyes… </p><p class="hdg">choose</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/23-4.htm">Job 23:4,7</a></b></br> I would order <i>my</i> cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/33-5.htm">Job 33:5</a></b></br> If thou canst answer me, set <i>thy words</i> in order before me, stand up.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/6-25.htm">Argue</a> <a href="/job/6-26.htm">Argument</a> <a href="/job/6-25.htm">Arguments</a> <a href="/job/9-3.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-30.htm">Choosing</a> <a href="/job/9-3.htm">Dispute</a> <a href="/job/8-8.htm">Find</a> <a href="/job/4-19.htm">Less</a> <a href="/job/6-16.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/job/9-2.htm">Right</a> <a href="/job/9-3.htm">Strive</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-6.htm">Using</a> <a href="/job/8-10.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/13-3.htm">Argue</a> <a href="/job/11-5.htm">Argument</a> <a href="/job/15-3.htm">Arguments</a> <a href="/job/15-5.htm">Choose</a> <a href="/luke/14-7.htm">Choosing</a> <a href="/job/23-7.htm">Dispute</a> <a href="/job/10-20.htm">Find</a> <a href="/job/11-6.htm">Less</a> <a href="/job/9-17.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/job/9-15.htm">Right</a> <a href="/job/13-8.htm">Strive</a> <a href="/job/19-5.htm">Using</a> <a href="/job/10-1.htm">Words</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>How then can I answer Him</b><br>This phrase reflects Job's recognition of God's supreme authority and wisdom. In the context of the Book of Job, Job is responding to Bildad's assertion of God's justice and power. Job acknowledges that, as a mere human, he lacks the capacity to fully comprehend or respond to God's actions or decisions. This humility before God is a recurring theme in Scripture, seen in <a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a>, where God's thoughts and ways are described as higher than human understanding. The rhetorical question underscores the vast gap between divine and human wisdom, a concept that is central to the wisdom literature of the Bible.<p><b>or choose my arguments against Him?</b><br>Here, Job expresses the futility of trying to argue or contend with God. This reflects the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, where legal disputes were common, and individuals often sought to present their case before a judge. However, Job realizes that standing before God is unlike any earthly court; God's omniscience and omnipotence render human arguments inadequate. This sentiment is echoed in <a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20</a>, where Paul questions the right of the created to challenge the Creator. The phrase also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity, as seen in <a href="/1_timothy/2-5.htm">1 Timothy 2:5</a>, highlighting the need for divine intercession in understanding and relating to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest to understand the reasons behind it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The Almighty Creator, whom Job is addressing in his discourse. Job acknowledges God's supreme power and wisdom, which makes him feel inadequate to argue his case before Him.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_friends.htm">Job's Friends</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are significant in the context of Job's discourse. They represent the traditional understanding of retributive justice, which Job is questioning.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_heavenly_court.htm">The Heavenly Court</a></b><br>The setting of the initial chapters of Job, where God and Satan discuss Job's faithfulness. This backdrop sets the stage for Job's trials and his subsequent reflections.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_suffering_of_job.htm">The Suffering of Job</a></b><br>The event that prompts Job's deep reflections and dialogues about human suffering, divine justice, and the nature of God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/humility_before_god.htm">Humility Before God</a></b><br>Recognize our limitations in understanding God's ways. Like Job, we must approach God with humility, acknowledging that His wisdom far surpasses our own.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_divine_justice.htm">The Nature of Divine Justice</a></b><br>Understand that God's justice is not always immediately apparent to us. Job's struggle with his suffering invites us to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when it is beyond our comprehension.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_faith_in_suffering.htm">The Role of Faith in Suffering</a></b><br>Embrace faith as a means to navigate suffering. Job's account encourages believers to hold onto faith, even when answers are not forthcoming.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_honest_dialogue_with_god.htm">The Importance of Honest Dialogue with God</a></b><br>Encourage open and honest communication with God. Job's willingness to express his doubts and questions serves as a model for our own prayer life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_sovereignty.htm">Trust in God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Trust in God's sovereign control over all circumstances. Job's acknowledgment of God's power reminds us to rely on His sovereignty, especially in times of trial.<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/is_atheism_our_natural_state_at_birth.htm">Is atheism our natural state at birth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_proof_of_god's_speech_today.htm">In Job 33:14, if God truly speaks in multiple ways, why is there no verifiable evidence of such divine communication today?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_use_personification_over_concrete_proof.htm">Proverbs 9:13-18 presents Folly as another woman calling out to the naive. Why rely on personification instead of providing concrete historical or scientific validations for these moral teachings?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_job_9_7_poetic_or_literal.htm">In Job 9:7, the text suggests God can command the sun not to rise, but astronomy shows consistent solar cycles--does this imply poetic exaggeration or a literal event?</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 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">How much less shall I answer him?</span> If he be the Lord of earth and heaven, if he rule the sun and the stars, if he tread down the sea, if he be impalpable and irresistible, if he hold the evil power and his helpers under restraint, how should I dare to answer him? How should any mere man do so? <span class="cmt_word">And choose out my words to reason with him?</span> Job feels that he would be too much overwhelmed to choose his terms carefully, and yet a careless word might be an unpardonable offence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/9-14.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">How</span><br /><span class="heb">אַ֭ף</span> <span class="translit">(’ap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_637.htm">Strong's 637: </a> </span><span class="str2">Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though</span><br /><br /><span class="word">then</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can I</span><br /><span class="heb">אָנֹכִ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·nō·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answer Him</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶֽעֱנֶ֑נּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·‘ĕ·nen·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or choose</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶבְחֲרָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(’eḇ·ḥă·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_977.htm">Strong's 977: </a> </span><span class="str2">To try, select</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my arguments</span><br /><span class="heb">דְבָרַ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(ḏə·ḇā·ray)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against Him?</span><br /><span class="heb">עִמּֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘im·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> </span><span class="str2">With, equally with</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/9-14.htm">Job 9:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/9-14.htm">OT Poetry: Job 9:14 How much less shall I answer him (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/9-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 9:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 9:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/9-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 9:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 9:15" /></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>