Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! New Living Translation If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. English Standard Version Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! Berean Standard Bible If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. King James Bible Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! New King James Version Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! New American Standard Bible “Oh that I knew how to find Him, That I might come to His home! NASB 1995 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! NASB 1977 “Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! Legacy Standard Bible Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! Amplified Bible “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat! Christian Standard Bible If only I knew how to find him, so that I could go to his throne. Holman Christian Standard Bible If only I knew how to find Him, so that I could go to His throne. American Standard Version Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! Contemporary English Version If I knew where to find God, I would go there English Revised Version Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! GOD'S WORD® Translation "If only I knew where I could find God! I would go where he lives. Good News Translation How I wish I knew where to find him, and knew how to go where he is. International Standard Version If only I knew where to find him, I would visit him where he has taken his seat. NET Bible O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence! New Heart English Bible Oh that I knew where I might find him. That I might come even to his seat. Webster's Bible Translation Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. World English Bible Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat! Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionO that I had known—and I find Him, "" I come to His seat, Young's Literal Translation O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat, Smith's Literal Translation Who will give, I knew to find him: I will come even to his place. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne? Catholic Public Domain Version Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne? New American Bible Would that I knew how to find him, that I might come to his dwelling! New Revised Standard Version Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But who makes it possible for me to arrive unto his seat? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come even to His seat! Brenton Septuagint Translation Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job Longs for God…2“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. 4I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.… Cross References Psalm 42:1-2 For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. / My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 143:6 I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. John 4:23-24 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Acts 17:27 God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Treasury of Scripture Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! Oh that Job 13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. Job 16:21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! Job 40:1-5 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, … where Isaiah 55:6,7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: … 2 Corinthians 5:19,20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation… Hebrews 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: that I might Job 31:35-37 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book… Jump to Previous Dwelling Find SeatJump to Next Dwelling Find SeatJob 23 1. Job longs to appear before God6. in confidence of his mercy 8. God, who is invisible, observes our ways 11. Job's innocence 13. God's decree is immutable If only I knew where to find Him This phrase reflects Job's deep desire for a personal encounter with God. In the context of the Book of Job, Job is in the midst of intense suffering and is seeking answers from God. This longing to find God is a common theme throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 42:1, where the psalmist expresses a thirst for God. Theologically, this reflects the human condition of seeking divine presence and understanding, a theme that resonates with the idea of God being both transcendent and immanent. Historically, the ancient Near Eastern context often depicted gods as distant, yet Job's yearning suggests a personal relationship with the divine, which is a distinctive feature of the Hebrew faith. so that I could go to His seat Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and seeking understanding of God's ways. 2. God The Almighty, whom Job is earnestly seeking to find and present his case before. Job's desire to find God reflects his deep yearning for divine justice and understanding. 3. Job's Friends Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they play a significant role in the surrounding chapters, offering explanations for Job's suffering that he finds unsatisfactory. 4. The Heavenly Court Implicit in Job's desire to go to God's "seat" is the imagery of a divine courtroom where justice is administered. 5. The Land of Uz The setting of Job's account, a place of ancient wisdom and prosperity, now a backdrop to Job's trials and dialogues. Teaching Points The Deep Yearning for GodJob's cry reveals a profound desire to connect with God, reminding us of the innate human longing for divine presence and understanding. The Mystery of God's Ways Job's struggle highlights the mystery of God's ways, encouraging believers to trust in God's wisdom even when His plans are not clear. The Importance of Seeking God Job's determination to find God underscores the importance of diligently seeking the Lord, especially in times of trial. Approaching God with Honesty Job's candid expression of his feelings teaches us to approach God honestly, bringing our doubts and questions before Him. Faith in the Midst of Suffering Despite his suffering, Job's faith drives him to seek God, serving as an example of perseverance and trust in God's ultimate justice. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Job 23How can Job’s claim in Job 23:3-5 that he would argue his case directly before God be reconciled with a supposedly omnipresent deity who remains silent? How does Job remain faithful amidst immense suffering? Is there any historical or archaeological basis to confirm the existence of Job or the context described in Job 23, or is it purely a literary construct? Why does Pilate, a known ruthless governor, appear unusually hesitant in sentencing Jesus?(3) Oh that I knew where I might find him.--The piteous complaint of a man who feels that God is with him for chastisement, but not for healing.Verse 3. - Oh that I knew where I might find him! This is the cry of the desolate human soul, feeling its need of God, and yet not knowing how to approach him. God seems to be very far removed from us. He is in heaven, and we are on earth; nay, he is in the highest heaven, or outside it, walking on its circumference (Job 22:14). How are we to approach near to him, so near as to be sure that he can hear us? How are we to "find" him? So, in all ages, has the human heart gone out to God, aspiring towards him, seeking after him, but, for the most part, baffled and disappointed. Job, like most other men in the olden times, though he has faith in God, though he serves him and prays to him, has yet the feeling that he is remote, distant, well-nigh inaccessible. It needed revelation to let man know that God is not far off, but very near to each one of us; that "in him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). That I might come even to his seat! Job's idea of bridging the distance between himself and God is that he should rise to the region where God is, not that God should condescend to come down to him. He wishes to "come to God's seat" - to that awful throne in the heaven of heavens, where God sitteth, surrounded by his hosts of angels, dealing out justice and judgment to mortal men (comp. Psalm 9:4, 7; Psalm 11:4; Psalm 45:6; Isaiah 6:1). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew If onlyמִֽי־ (mî-) Interjection Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix I knew יָ֭דַעְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know where to find Him, וְאֶמְצָאֵ֑הוּ (wə·’em·ṣā·’ê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present so that I could go אָ֝ב֗וֹא (’ā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while His seat. תְּכוּנָתֽוֹ׃ (tə·ḵū·nā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8499: Arrangement, preparation, fixed place Links Job 23:3 NIVJob 23:3 NLT Job 23:3 ESV Job 23:3 NASB Job 23:3 KJV Job 23:3 BibleApps.com Job 23:3 Biblia Paralela Job 23:3 Chinese Bible Job 23:3 French Bible Job 23:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 23:3 Oh that I knew where I might (Jb) |
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