Job 9:3
New International Version
Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.

New Living Translation
If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?

English Standard Version
If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

Berean Standard Bible
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

King James Bible
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

New King James Version
If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

New American Standard Bible
“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

NASB 1995
“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

NASB 1977
“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Legacy Standard Bible
If one desired to contend with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Amplified Bible
“If one should want to contend or dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Christian Standard Bible
If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.

American Standard Version
If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If he will desire to judge his people, not one of a thousand answers him

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For if he would enter into judgment with him, God would not hearken to him, so that he should answer to one of his charges of a thousand.

Contemporary English Version
Not once in a thousand times could we win our case if we took him to court.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.

English Revised Version
If he be pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn't be able to answer one question in a thousand.

Good News Translation
How can anyone argue with him? He can ask a thousand questions that no one could ever answer.

International Standard Version
If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

JPS Tanakh 1917
If one should desire to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one of a thousand.

Literal Standard Version
If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.

Majority Standard Bible
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

New American Bible
Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.

NET Bible
If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.

New Revised Standard Version
If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand.

New Heart English Bible
If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.

Webster's Bible Translation
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

World English Bible
If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.

Young's Literal Translation
If he delight to strive with Him -- He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
2“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God? 3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?…

Cross References
Job 9:14
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?

Job 9:32
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

Job 10:2
I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

Job 13:19
Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

Job 23:6
Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Job 40:2
"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer."

Job 40:5
I have spoken once, but I have no answer--twice, but I have nothing to add."


Treasury of Scripture

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

he will contend

Job 9:20,32,33
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse…

Job 10:2
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Job 23:3-7
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …

he cannot

Psalm 19:12
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psalm 40:12
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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Able Choose Contend Delight Desire Desiring Dispute Law Once Pleased Questions Strive Thousand Time Times Wished
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Able Choose Contend Delight Desire Desiring Dispute Law Once Pleased Questions Strive Thousand Time Times Wished
Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














(3) If he will contend with him.--If man choose to contend with God, he cannot answer Him one question of a thousand, once in a thousand times.

Verse 3. - If he will contend with him; rather, if he should desire to contend with him; i.e. if, notwithstanding his knowledge of his own weakness and guilt, he should nevertheless be mad enough to desire to contend with God, then he will find that he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Of the charges which God might in his omniscience bring against him, he could not make a satisfactory reply to one in a thousand. It is not that Job admits any special guilt in himself; but such he feels to be the universal condition of humanity. "All have sinned in ten thousand ways, "and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

one wished
יַ֭חְפֹּץ (yaḥ·pōṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2654: To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire

to contend
לָרִ֣יב (lā·rîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

with [God],
עִמּ֑וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

he could not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer Him
יַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּ (ya·‘ă·nen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

one [time]
אַחַ֥ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

out
מִנִּי־ (min·nî-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

of a thousand.
אָֽלֶף׃ (’ā·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand


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OT Poetry: Job 9:3 If he is pleased to contend (Jb)
Job 9:2
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