Job 16:4
New International Version
I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.

New Living Translation
I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.

English Standard Version
I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.

Berean Standard Bible
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

King James Bible
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

New King James Version
I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you;

New American Standard Bible
“I too could speak like you, If only I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

NASB 1995
“I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

NASB 1977
“I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you, And shake my head at you.

Legacy Standard Bible
I too could speak like you, If your soul was in the place of my soul. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you.

Amplified Bible
“I also could speak like you, If you were in my place; I could compose and join words together against you And shake my head at you.

Christian Standard Bible
If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.

American Standard Version
I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I also might speak like you, but, oh that your souls were treated in the place of my soul, and I had tested you with words and I would shake my head at you!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I also will speak as ye do: if indeed your soul were in my soul's stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

Contemporary English Version
If I were in your place, it would be easy to criticize or to give advice.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

English Revised Version
I also could speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, and shake mine head at you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I, too, could speak like you if we could trade places. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.

Good News Translation
If you were in my place and I in yours, I could say everything you are saying. I could shake my head wisely and drown you with a flood of words.

International Standard Version
"I could also talk like you if only you were in my place! Then I would put together an argument against you. I would shake my head at you

JPS Tanakh 1917
I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

Literal Standard Version
I also, like you, might speak, | If your soul were in my soul’s stead. I might join against you with words, | And nod at you with my head.

Majority Standard Bible
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

New American Bible
I also could talk as you do, were you in my place. I could declaim over you, or wag my head at you;

NET Bible
I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.

New Revised Standard Version
I also could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

New Heart English Bible
I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul's place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

Webster's Bible Translation
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

World English Bible
I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

Young's Literal Translation
I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Decries his Comforters
3Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying? 4I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. 5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:39
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

Job 16:5
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

Psalm 22:7
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

Psalm 109:25
I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

Isaiah 37:22
this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.

Jeremiah 48:27
Was not Israel your object of ridicule? Was he ever found among thieves? For whenever you speak of him you shake your head.

Zephaniah 2:15
This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: "I am it, and there is none besides me," what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.


Treasury of Scripture

I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

if your soul

Job 6:2-5,14
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! …

Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

up words

Job 11:2
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Job 35:16
Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

shake mine

2 Kings 19:21
This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

Psalm 22:7
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

Psalm 44:14
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

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Job 16
1. Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness
17. He maintains his innocence














(4) If your soul.--i.e., person=" If you were in my place, I could heap up words," &c. It is doubtful whether this is in contrast to what comes afterwards in the fifth verse, as in the Authorised Version, or whether it may not be in parallelism with it; thus: "I would make myself a companion to you--condole and sympathise with you. in words, and shake my head at you as a mark of sympathy." The phrase differs somewhat from that in Psalm 22:7; Isaiah 37:22, where to shake the head expresses contempt and derision.

Verse 4. - I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you. It is only too easy to heap up rhetorical declamation against an unfortunate sufferer, whose physical and mental agonies absorb almost his whole attention. If you were in my place and condition, and I in yours, I could moralize in your tone and spirit for hours. And shake my head at you. A Hebrew mode of expressing condemnation of a man's conduct (see Psalm 22:7; Isaiah 37:22; Jeremiah 18:16; Matthew 27:39, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I
אָנֹכִי֮ (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

could also
גַּ֤ם ׀ (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

speak
אֲדַ֫בֵּ֥רָה (’ă·ḏab·bê·rāh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

like you
כָּכֶ֪ם (kā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

if
ל֤וּ־ (lū-)
Preposition
Strong's 3863: If, would that!

you
נַפְשְׁכֶ֡ם (nap̄·šə·ḵem)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

were
יֵ֪שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

in my
נַפְשִׁ֗י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

place;
תַּ֤חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

I could heap up
אַחְבִּ֣ירָה (’aḥ·bî·rāh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 2266: To unite, be joined, to tie a magic knot or spell, to charm

words
בְּמִלִּ֑ים (bə·mil·lîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic

against you
עֲלֵיכֶ֣ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and shake
וְאָנִ֥יעָה (wə·’ā·nî·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5128: To quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

my head
רֹאשִֽׁי׃ (rō·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7218: The head

at you.
עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Poetry: Job 16:4 I also could speak as you do (Jb)
Job 16:3
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