Job 9:2
New International Version
“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?

New Living Translation
“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?

English Standard Version
“Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

Berean Standard Bible
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

King James Bible
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

New King James Version
“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?

New American Standard Bible
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a person be in the right with God?

NASB 1995
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?

NASB 1977
“In truth I know that this is so, But how can a man be in the right before God?

Legacy Standard Bible
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?

Amplified Bible
“Yes, I know it is true. But how can a mortal man be right before God?

Christian Standard Bible
Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?

American Standard Version
Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

Contemporary English Version
What you say is true. No human is innocent in the sight of God.

English Revised Version
Of a truth I know that it is so: but how can man be just with God?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Yes, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be declared righteous to God?

International Standard Version
"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

Majority Standard Bible
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

NET Bible
"Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

New Heart English Bible
"Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

Webster's Bible Translation
I know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

World English Bible
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Truly I have known that [it is] so, "" But how is man righteous with God?

Young's Literal Translation
Truly I have known that it is so, And what -- is man righteous with God?

Smith's Literal Translation
I knew that so the truth: and how shall man be just with God?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with

Catholic Public Domain Version
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.

New American Bible
I know well that it is so; but how can anyone be in the right before God?

New Revised Standard Version
“Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Truly, I know that it is so; but how can a man be declared innocent before God?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Truly I know that it is so, and no man overcomes God
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Of a truth I know that it is so; And how can man be just with God?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I know of a truth that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be just before the Lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
1Then Job answered: 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.…

Cross References
Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Psalm 143:2
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isaiah 64:6
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.

Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

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

Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. / Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Psalm 130:3
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 11:32
For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.

Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

1 Kings 8:46
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,


Treasury of Scripture

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

how

Job 4:17
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Job 14:3,4
And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? …

Job 25:4
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

with.

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Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














Yes, I know that it is so
This phrase reflects Job's acknowledgment of the truth of Bildad's previous assertions about God's justice and the fate of the wicked. The Hebrew word for "know" here is "yada," which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. Job is not merely agreeing intellectually; he deeply understands the theological principles being discussed. This acknowledgment sets the stage for Job's profound struggle with the apparent disconnect between his understanding of God's justice and his own suffering. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern context where wisdom and understanding were highly valued, and Job, as a wise man, is grappling with these deep truths.

but how can a mortal
The term "mortal" translates the Hebrew word "enosh," which emphasizes human frailty and mortality. This word choice underscores the vast chasm between God and humans, highlighting human limitations. In the ancient world, this recognition of human frailty was common, as people were acutely aware of their dependence on the divine. Job's use of "mortal" here is a humble admission of his own limitations in the face of divine perfection.

be righteous
The Hebrew word for "righteous" is "tsaddiq," which conveys the idea of being just, right, or in accordance with a standard. In the biblical context, righteousness is often associated with living in accordance with God's laws and commands. Job's question here is not just about legalistic righteousness but about the deeper, relational righteousness that aligns a person's heart and actions with God's will. This reflects the biblical theme that true righteousness is not merely external but involves the heart and intentions.

before God
The phrase "before God" indicates standing in the presence of the Almighty, the ultimate judge. The Hebrew preposition "lifnei" (before) suggests being in the face of or in the presence of someone. In the ancient Near Eastern context, being "before" a deity was a serious matter, as it implied accountability and judgment. Job's question is profound because it acknowledges God's holiness and the inherent challenge for any human to stand justified in His presence. This reflects the biblical understanding of God's transcendence and the need for divine grace to bridge the gap between human sinfulness and divine holiness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Yes,
אָ֭מְנָם (’ā·mə·nām)
Conjunction
Strong's 551: Verily, truly

I know
יָדַ֣עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִי־ (ḵî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[it is] so,
כֵ֑ן (ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

but how
וּמַה־ (ū·mah-)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can a mortal
אֱנ֣וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

be righteous
יִּצְדַּ֖ק (yiṣ·daq)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

before
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

God?
אֵֽל׃ (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty


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OT Poetry: Job 9:2 Truly I know that it is so (Jb)
Job 9:1
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