the Second Week after Easter
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Contemporary English Version
Job 23:3
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
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- DailyParallel Translations
If only I knew how to find him,so that I could go to his throne.
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
I wish I knew where to find God so I could go to where he lives.
O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence!
"Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat!
"Oh that I knew how to find Him, That I might come to His home!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.
Oh that I knew where I might find Him,That I might come to His seat!
If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
I wish I knew where I could find him; then I would go to where he is.
Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
I wish I knew where to find him. I wish I knew how to go to where he lives.
Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
How I wish I knew where to find him, and knew how to go where he is.
O that I knew and that I might find him; O that I might come to his dwelling.
Oh that I knew where I might find Him, I would come into His seat;
O that I might se him & fynde him: O that I might come before his seate,
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!
Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!
O that I knewe where I might find him! that I might come euen to his seate!
O that I might know him, and finde him, and that I might come before his seate:
Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter?
Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.
If only I knew where to find Him, that I might go where He is!
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;
Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,
"Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Oh that: Job 13:3, Job 16:21, Job 40:1-5, Isaiah 26:8, Jeremiah 14:7
where: Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, 2 Corinthians 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Hebrews 4:6
that I might: Job 31:35-37
Reciprocal: Genesis 18:28 - wilt Job 9:3 - he will contend Job 9:32 - we should Job 11:5 - General Job 19:7 - no judgment Job 23:15 - General Job 29:5 - the Almighty Job 33:6 - I am Job 35:14 - thou sayest Job 38:3 - for Job 40:7 - Gird Psalms 42:2 - living Psalms 84:2 - heart Isaiah 41:1 - let us Isaiah 41:21 - Produce Isaiah 43:26 - Put Isaiah 50:8 - let us Jeremiah 30:21 - engaged Jeremiah 49:19 - appoint me the time Hebrews 7:25 - come
Cross-References
"Sir," they answered, "you are an important man. Choose the best place to bury your wife. None of us would refuse you a resting place for your dead."
Abraham bowed down
Rebekah later told Isaac, "Those Hittite wives of Esau are making my life miserable! If Jacob marries a Hittite woman, I'd be better off dead."
David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Joab's brother Abishai, "Which one of you will go with me into Saul's camp?" "I will!" Abishai answered.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
O that I knew where I might find him,.... That is, God, who is understood, though not expressed, a relative without an antecedent, as in Psalms 87:1; Jarchi supplies, and interprets it, "my Judge", from Job 23:7; and certain it is Job did desire to find God as a judge sitting on his throne, doing right, that he might have justice done to him: indeed he might be under the hidings of God's face, which added to his affliction, and made it the heavier; in which case, the people of God are at a loss to know where he is, and "how" to find him, as Mr. Broughton renders the words here; they know that he is everywhere, and fills heaven and earth with his presence; that their God is in the heavens, his throne is there, yea, the heaven is his throne; that he is in his church, and among his people, where they are gathered together in his name, to wait upon him, and to worship him; and that he is to be found in Christ, as a God gracious and merciful; all which Job knew, but might, as they in such circumstances are, be at a loss how to come at sensible communion with him; for, when he hides his face, who can behold him? yet they cannot content themselves without seeking after him, and making use of all means of finding him, as Job did, Job 23:8; see Song of Solomon 3:1;
[that] I might come [even] to his seat; either his mercy seat, from whence he communes with his people, the throne of his grace, where he sits as the God of grace, dispensing his grace to his people, to help them in time of need; the way to which is Christ, and in which all believers may come to it with boldness, in his name, through his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; they may come up even to it, in the exercise of faith and hope, though the distance is great, as between heaven and earth, yet by faith they can come into the holiest of all, and by hope enter within the vail; and though the difficulties and discouragements are many, arising from their sins and transgressions: or else his judgment seat, at which no man can appear and stand, without a righteousness, or without a better than his own, by which none can be justified in the sight of God; who, if strict to mark iniquity, the best of men cannot stand before him, at his bar of justice; indeed, in the righteousness of Christ, a believer may come up to the judgment seat of God, and to him as Judge of all, and not be afraid, but stand before him with confidence, since that is sufficient to answer for him, and fully acquit him: but Job here seems to have a peculiar respect to his case, in controversy between him and his friends, and is so fully assured of the justness of his cause, and relying on his innocence, he wishes for nothing more than that he could find God sitting on a throne of justice, before whom his cause might be brought and heard, not doubting in the least but that he should be acquitted; so far was he from hiding himself from God, or pleasing himself with the thoughts that God was in the height of heaven, and knew nothing of him and his conduct, and could not judge through the dark clouds, which were a covering to him, that he could not see him; that he was not afraid to appear before him, and come up even to his seat, if he knew but where and how he could; see Job 22:12.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Oh that I knew where I might find him! - Where I might find “God.” He had often expressed a wish to bring his cause directly before God, and to be permitted to plead his cause there; see Job 13:3, note; Job 13:20, notes. But this he had not yet been able to do. The argument had been with his three friends, and he saw that there was no use in attempting further to convince them. If he could get the cause before God, and be allowed go plead it there, he felt assured that justice would be done him. But he had not been able to do this. God had not come forth in any visible and public manner as he wished, so that the cause could be fairly tried before such a tribunal, and he was in darkness. The “language” used here will express the condition of a pious man in the times of spiritual darkness. Hc cannot find God. He has no near access as he once had to him. In such a state he anxiously seeks to find God, but he cannot. There is no light and no comfort to his soul. This language may further describe the state of one who is conscious of uprightness, and who is exposed to the suspicion or the unkind remarks of the world. His character is attacked; his motives are impugned; his designs are suspected, and no one is disposed to do him justice. In such a state, he feels that “God” alone will do him justice. “He” knows the sincerity of his heart, and he can safely commit his cause to him. It is always the privilege of the calumniated and the slandered to make an appeal to the divine tribunal, and to feel that whatever injustice our fellow-men may be disposed to do us, there is One who will never do a wrong.
That I might come even to his seat - To his throne, or tribunal. Job wished to carry the cause directly before him. Probably he desired some manifestation of God - such as he was afterward favored with - when God would declare his judgment on the whole matter of the controversy.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 23:3. O that I knew where I might find him! — This and the following verse may be read thus: "Who will give me the knowledge of God, that I may find him out? I would come to his establishment; (the place or way in which he has promised to communicate himself;) I would exhibit, in detail, my judgment (the cause I wish to be tried) before his face; and my mouth would I fill with convincing or decisive arguments;" arguments drawn from his common method of saving sinners, which I should prove applied fully to my case. Hence the confidence with which he speaks, Job 23:6.
