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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Job 9:21

Verse Job 9:21. Though I were perfect] Had I the fullest conviction that, in every thought, word, and deed, I were blameless before him, yet I would not plead this; nor would I think it any security for a life of ease and prosperity, or any proof that my days should be prolonged.

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See also Job 9:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THOUGH I WERE PERFECT - The same mode of expression occurs here again. “I perfect! I would not know it, or recognize it. If this were my view, and God judged otherwise, I would seem to be ignorant of...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 9-10 JOB ANSWERS BILDAD _ 1. The supremacy and power of God (Job 9:1)_ 2. How then can Job meet Him? (Job 9:11) 3. He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked (Job 9:22) 4. Confession of we...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB 9:1 is Job's answer to the position taken up by Bildad, viz. that the Almighty cannot judge falsely (Job 8:3). In Job 2 accepts the general principle that God judges according to merit. But of wha...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MY SOUL. myself. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. LIFE. Hebrew. _chayai._...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    From the operation of this terrible force in the physical world Job passes on to describe its display among creatures, and to shew how it paralyses and crushes them....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    I am perfect! I regard not myself, I despise my life. The speaker in Job 9:19 is God, at least it is He who uses the words, "Here I am," and "Who will set me a time?" The rest may be words of Job, i...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    These three verses read as follows, If you speak of the strength of the mighty, Here I am! (saith He) If of judgment, Who will set me a time?...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    These verses describe what would ensue in the supposed case that God had actually responded to Job's citation. He would not listen to Job's plea but would crush him with His infinite power. The words...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 459 THE EVIL OF A SELF-JUSTIFYING SPIRIT Job 9:20. _If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, ye...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. Arbitrarily God deals with him, no matter what he may do. (Job 9:13-24) TEXT 9:13-24 13 GOD WILL NOT WITHDRAW HIS ANGER; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him. 14 How much less shall I answer...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THOUGH I WERE PERFECT, YET WOULD I NOT KNOW MY SOUL: I WOULD DESPISE MY LIFE._ Though I were perfect, yet would not know my soul - literally (here and in Job 9:20), 'I perfect! I should not know my...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    RV 'I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.' Job now boldly asserts that he is innocent, even though it may cost him his life. 22-24. Job boldly arraigns the morality of the divine gove...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB'S SECOND SPEECH (JOB 9:10) Job 9:10 are, perhaps, in their religious and moral aspects the most difficult in the book. Driver in his 'Introduction to the Literature of the OT.' analyses them as f...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 9 JOB REPLIES TO BILDAD’S F...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    In this life, good people often suffer. But God is not responsible for their troubles. Sometimes the devil caused the troubles (as in Job 2:7). Sometimes evil people are responsible. And sometimes nat...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    תָּֽם ־אָ֭נִי לֹֽא ־אֵדַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶמְאַ֥ס...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    X. THE THOUGHT OF A DAYSMAN JOB 9:1; Job 10:1 Job SPEAKS IT is with an infinitely sad restatement of what God has been made to appear to him by Bildad's speech that Job begins his reply. Yes, yes; it...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “THE DAYSMAN” Job 9:1 Ponder the sublimity of the conceptions of God given in this magnificent passage. To God are attributed the earthquake that rocks the pillars on which the world rests, Job 9:6;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Job now answered Bildad. He first admitted the truth of the general proposition, Of a truth I know that it IS so; and then propounded the great question, which he subsequently proceeded to discuss in...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER IX. _ Life, under this uncertainty and affliction. (Menochius)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (13) If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. (14) В¶ How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? (15) Whom, though I were righteous,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4 THROUGH 31. As to the friends of Job, they do not call for any extended remarks. They urge the doctrine that God's earthly government is a full measure and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    [THOUGH] I [WERE] PERFECT,.... Really and truly so, not conscious of any sin in thought, word, or deed; this is only a case supposed: [YET] WOULD I NOT KNOW MY SOUL; I would not own myself to be so b...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Job 9:21 [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. Ver. 21. _Though I were perfect_] That is, of an unblameable conversation, yet could not I know mine own s...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Though I were perfect_, &c. Hebrew, תם אני, _tam ani, the perfect I, would not know my soul_ Namely, _myself_ as the word נפשׁ, _nephesh_, is rendered, Esther 4:13; or, _my heart_, or _spirit._ That...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JOB'S DEFENSE AGAINST SUSPICION. Both Eliphaz and Bildad had attempted to fasten upon Job some specific wrong, seeking from him a confession to that effect. He therefore defends himself against this...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HOW CAN MAN BE JUST BEFORE GOD? (vv.1-13) Job's reply to Bildad occupies two Chapter s, 35 verses longer than Bildad's arguments had taken. But Job acknowledged, "Truly, I know it is so," that is, h...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Here is another point of despair, he did not even care about himself anymore; he hated his life....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-21 Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. Job 32:1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of provide...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    i.e. Though God should acquit me in judgment, and pronounce me perfect or righteous, YET WOULD I NOT KNOW, i.e. regard or value, (as that word is oft used,)_ my soul_, i.e. my life; as the soul freque...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 9:21 blameless H8535 know H3045 (H8799) myself H5315 despise H3988 (H8799) life H2416 yet would -...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Job answers Bildad, denying he is a hypocrite. CHARACTERS: God, Job, Bildad. CONCLUSION: Man is an unequal match for his Maker, either in dispute or combat. If God should deal with any of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 9:5. _Removeth the mountains,_ by earthquakes. The great mountain ranges have continuous caverns, with interior rivers and lakes. Where liases, iron and sulphur abound, volcanoes form their beds o...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If I justify myself._ THE FOLLY OF SELF-JUSTIFICATION One of Rev. Murray M’Cheyne’s elders was in deep darkness and distress for a few weeks, but one Sunday after the pastor’s faithful preaching he...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Which doeth great things past finding out._ JOB’S IDEA OF WHAT GOD IS TO MANKIND He regards the Eternal as-- I. Inscrutable. 1. In His works. “Which doeth great things past finding out.” How great...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 9:1 Job responds, in a speech that is relentlessly legal: ch. Job 9:1 is framed by the term CONTEND ...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 9:21 I REGARD NOT MYSELF. Job seems to be saying that he does not care whether he lives or dies. He is prepared to risk his life to find justice (Job 13:14)....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _JOB’S REPLY TO BILDAD_ Strongly affirms the truth of Bildad’s speech as to God’s justice (Job 9:1). Declares the impossibility of fallen man establishing his righteousness with God. The same, already...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 9:1 Job, in answer to Bildad, admits the truth of his arguments, but declines to attempt the justification which can alone entitle him to accept the favourable side of Bildad's alterna...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So Job answers him and he said, I know it is true (Job 9:1-2): What? That God is fair. That God is just. Now that is something that we need to all know. That is true. God is righteous. God is just. Th...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 3:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 17:9; Job 7:1

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Perfect — If I should think myself perfect, yet I would not know, not acknowledge, my soul; I could not own nor plead before God the integrity of my soul, but would only make supplication to my judge,...

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