Job 23:4

4 I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments

Job 23:4 Meaning and Commentary

Job 23:4

I would order [my] cause before him
Either, as a praying person, direct his prayer to him, and set it in order before him, see ( Psalms 5:3 ) ; or else as pleading in his own defence, and in justification of himself; not of his person before God, setting his works of righteousness in order before him, and pleading his justification on the foot of them; for, by these no flesh living can be justified before God; but of his cause, for, as a man may vindicate his cause before men, and clear himself from aspersions cast upon him, as Samuel did, ( 1 Samuel 12:5 ) ; so he may before God, with respect to the charges he is falsely loaded with, and may appeal to him for justice, and desire he would stir up himself, and awake to his judgment, even to his cause, and plead it against those that strive with him, as David did, ( Psalms 35:1 Psalms 35:23 ) ( 43:1 ) ;

and fill my mouth with arguments;
either in prayer, as a good man may; not with such as are taken from his goodness and righteousness, but from the person, office, grace, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, and from the declarations of God's grace, and the promises of his word; or else as in a court of judicature, bringing forth his strong reasons, and giving proofs of his innocence, such as would be demonstrative, even convincing to all that should hear, and be not only proofs for him, and in his favour, but reproofs also, as the word F3 signifies, to those that contended with him.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (twxkwt) "increpationibus", V. L. and so Montanus, Beza, Mercerus, Drusius, Schultens.

Job 23:4 In-Context

2 "Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!
4 I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments
5 I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.