Job 23:5
New International Version
I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me.

New Living Translation
Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.

English Standard Version
I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.

Berean Standard Bible
I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

King James Bible
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

New King James Version
I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

New American Standard Bible
“I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would tell me.

NASB 1995
“I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.

NASB 1977
“I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.

Legacy Standard Bible
I would know the words which He would answer, And discern what He would say to me.

Amplified Bible
“I would learn the words which He would answer, And understand what He would say to me.

Christian Standard Bible
I would learn how he would answer me; and understand what he would say to me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I would learn how He would answer me; and understand what He would say to me.

American Standard Version
I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

Contemporary English Version
Then I would discover what he wanted to say.

English Revised Version
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I want to know the words he would use to answer me. I want to understand the things he would say to me.

Good News Translation
I want to know what he would say and how he would answer me.

International Standard Version
I know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me.

Majority Standard Bible
I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

NET Bible
I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

New Heart English Bible
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

Webster's Bible Translation
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

World English Bible
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I know the words He answers me, "" And understand what He says to me.

Young's Literal Translation
I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

Smith's Literal Translation
I shall know the words he will answer me, and I shall understand what he will say to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

New American Bible
I would learn the words he would answer me, understand what he would say to me.

New Revised Standard Version
I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I would know what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I had known what he answered me and I had understood what he said to me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say unto me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Longs for God
4I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say. 6Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.…

Cross References
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

Isaiah 55:8-9
“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.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.

Psalm 25:4-5
Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. / Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 11:33-34
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?”

Psalm 143:8
Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” / But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Psalm 119:27
Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.


Treasury of Scripture

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

know

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

Job 13:22,23
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me…

Job 42:2-6
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee…

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Job 23
1. Job longs to appear before God
6. in confidence of his mercy
8. God, who is invisible, observes our ways
11. Job's innocence
13. God's decree is immutable














Then I would understand
The phrase "Then I would understand" reflects Job's deep yearning for clarity and comprehension in the midst of his suffering. The Hebrew root for "understand" is "בִּין" (bin), which implies discernment and insight. In the context of Job's trials, this highlights his desire not just for answers, but for a profound understanding of God's purposes. Historically, wisdom literature, such as the Book of Job, often emphasizes the pursuit of understanding as a divine gift, suggesting that true comprehension comes from God alone. Job's statement is a testament to his faith that God is the ultimate source of wisdom and that, despite his current confusion, divine revelation would bring clarity.

what He would say
The phrase "what He would say" underscores Job's longing to hear directly from God. The Hebrew word for "say" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is commonly used in the Old Testament to denote speech or declaration. This reflects Job's belief in the power and authority of God's word. In the ancient Near Eastern context, words were seen as powerful and creative forces, capable of bringing about change and understanding. Job's desire to hear God's words indicates his trust in God's sovereignty and his hope that divine communication would provide the answers he seeks. Scripturally, this aligns with the broader biblical theme that God's word is a source of truth and guidance, as seen in passages like Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Job's faith in the transformative power of God's speech is a profound expression of his enduring hope amidst suffering.

Verse 5. - I would know the words which he would answer me. It would be a satisfaction to Job in his present mood to know exactly how God would answer him, what reply he would make to his "arguments." The tone of thought is too bold for a creature, and would certainly not be becoming in Christians. And understand what he would say unto me. Here we have another of the redundant second clauses, which merely echo the idea contained in the previous clause.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I would learn
אֵ֭דְעָה (’ê·ḏə·‘āh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

how
מִלִּ֣ים (mil·lîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic

He would answer,
יַעֲנֵ֑נִי (ya·‘ă·nê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

and consider
וְ֝אָבִ֗ינָה (wə·’ā·ḇî·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

He would say.
יֹּ֥אמַר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Poetry: Job 23:5 I would know the words which he (Jb)
Job 23:4
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