3
Ifאִםhe wishedיַחְפֹּץto contendלָרִיבwith him,עִמּוֹhe could notלֹאanswer himיַעֲנֶנּוּoneאַחַתinמִנִּיa thousand.אָלֶף
Job 9:3
Study it in the app“If he wished to contend with him, he could not answer him one in a thousand.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Job 9:3, word by word
- he wishedיַחְפֹּץyachpots
desire
To wish for something, be willing.
Where else “yachpots” appears- to contendרִיבriv
quarrel
To fight with words.
Where else “riv” appears- answer himיַעֲנֶyaane
answer
To reply to what was said.
Where else “yaane” appears- oneאַחַתachat
one
The number one; just one and no more.
Where else “achat” appears- a thousandאָלֶףalef
thousand
One thousand: a large, round number.
Where else “alef” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew does not say who it is that wants to contend, nor who cannot answer: it may be man before God, or God before man.
The context
2“Certainly I know that it is so; but how can a mortal be righteous before El?
3 · This verse (above)
4Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has hardened himself against him and remained at peace?