Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 23 is Job's response to Eliphaz's third speech — yearning to find God to lay-out his case (vv. 3–7) and trusting that the testing-fire produces gold (v. 10). Verse 10 — 'when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold' — is one of Job's-greatest faith-affirmations within his suffering.
Notable Variants
23:3 'Oh that I knew where I might find him' searcher-cry; 23:10 'when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold' refining-faith → 1 Pet 1:6–7; 23:12 'I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.'
Structural Notes
MT Job 23 = LXX Job 23. 17 verses.
Then responded:
'Then Job answered and said' tracks MT.
Even today my complaint is bitter rebellion. His hand is heavy on me despite my groaning.
'Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning' tracks MT.
If only I knew where to find him — that I could come to his dwelling place!
'Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!' tracks MT. SEEK-GOD-AT-HIS-SEAT yearning. Hebrews 4:16's 'let us draw near to the throne of grace' Christologically-fulfills.
I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
'I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments' tracks MT.
I would learn what words he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.
'I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me' tracks MT.
Would he contend with me by brute force? No — he would simply give me his attention.
'Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me' tracks MT.
There an upright person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
'There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge' tracks MT. ACQUITTED-FOREVER. Pauline-justification anticipation. Romans 8:33 ('who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies') extends.
But I go forward — he is not there. I go backward — I cannot perceive him.
'Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him' tracks MT.
I turn to the north where he is working — I cannot take hold of him. He wraps himself in the south — I cannot see him.
'On the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him' tracks MT. DEUS-ABSCONDITUS — God-not-found. Yet, paradoxically, the seeker-knows the path.
But he knows the way I have walked. When he has tested me, I will come out as gold.
'But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold' tracks MT. COME-OUT-AS-GOLD — refining-faith. 1 Peter 1:6–7 ('the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory') directly-extends. Job's-faith-confession at his-darkest moment.
My foot has held to his steps; I have kept his way and not turned aside.
'My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside' tracks MT.
I have not departed from the command of his lips. More than my daily bread, I have treasured the words of his mouth.
'I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food' tracks MT. TREASURED-HIS-WORDS-MORE-THAN-FOOD. Matthew 4:4 ('man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,' citing Deut 8:3) Christologically extends.
But he is singular in purpose — who can turn him? What he desires, he does.
'But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does' tracks MT. UNCHANGEABLE — divine-immutability. Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Heb 13:8 extend.
For he will carry out the decree appointed for me, and many such decrees are stored with him.
'For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind' tracks MT.
Therefore I am terrified before him. When I consider, I am filled with dread of him.
'Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him' tracks MT.
God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has filled me with terror.
'God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me' tracks MT.
Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, nor by the deep gloom that covers my face.
'For I am hemmed in by darkness, and thick darkness covers my face' tracks MT.