For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
The verse stands in the oldest book of the Bible, the oldest of all poetical books preserved, within the debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions running from chapters 4 to 31 and consisting of three circles of speeches on the part of each, forming the second of four parts alongside the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17. Chapter 9 belongs to the debate about the cause and purpose of human suffering, and specifically chapters 8-10 present Job's reply to Bildad, arguing that his afflictions do not prove that he has sinned. Job knew his own integrity yet could not understand God's dealings with him, and he did not foolishly accuse God.
The verse declares that God is not a man like Job and is not his equal. Job longs to bring his case to court, to answer God and come together with him in judgment to settle it, but he cannot meet God as an equal. The next verse adds that he has no umpire or judge to stand between them and lay hands on both.
The verse expresses the distance between God and humanity amid suffering and the problem of understanding God's dealings. The complaint concerns a present contention with God and does not deny the future judgment of all people before Christ. Job later recognizes the folly of his contention with God.
The verse stands in the oldest book of the Bible, the oldest of all poetical books preserved, within the debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions running from chapters 4 to 31 and consisting of three circles of speeches on the part of each, forming the second of four parts alongside the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17. Chapter 9 belongs to the debate about the cause and purpose of human suffering, and specifically chapters 8-10 present Job's reply to Bildad, arguing that his afflictions do not prove that he has sinned. Job knew his own integrity yet could not understand God's dealings with him, and he did not foolishly accuse God.
The verse declares that God is not a man like Job and is not his equal. Job longs to bring his case to court, to answer God and come together with him in judgment to settle it, but he cannot meet God as an equal. The next verse adds that he has no umpire or judge to stand between them and lay hands on both.
The verse expresses the distance between God and humanity amid suffering and the problem of understanding God's dealings. The complaint concerns a present contention with God and does not deny the future judgment of all people before Christ. Job later recognizes the folly of his contention with God.