Job 5:8
New International Version
“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.

New Living Translation
“If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him.

English Standard Version
“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,

Berean Standard Bible
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

King James Bible
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

New King James Version
“But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause—

New American Standard Bible
“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would make my plea before God,

NASB 1995
“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;

NASB 1977
“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;

Legacy Standard Bible
“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would set my cause before God,

Amplified Bible
“As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him, And I would commit my cause to God;

Christian Standard Bible
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and would present my case to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and would present my case to Him.

American Standard Version
But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

Contemporary English Version
Job, if I were you, I would ask God for help.

English Revised Version
But as for me, I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But I would seek God's help and present my case to him.

Good News Translation
If I were you, I would turn to God and present my case to him.

International Standard Version
"Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you; I would commit my case to God.

Majority Standard Bible
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him?

NET Bible
"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case.

New Heart English Bible
"But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

Webster's Bible Translation
I would seek to God, and to God would I commit my cause:

World English Bible
“But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Yet I inquire for God, "" And for God I give my word,

Young's Literal Translation
Yet I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,

Smith's Literal Translation
But I will seek to God, and to God set my cause:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, because of this, I will beg the Lord, and place my eloquence before God.

New American Bible
In your place, I would appeal to God, and to God I would state my plea.

New Revised Standard Version
“As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But as for me. I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However, I shall seek for God, and to God I shall put my word
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Nevertheless I will beseech the Lord, and will call upon the Lord, the sovereign of all;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz Continues: God Blesses those who Seek Him
7Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. 8However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him— 9the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.…

Cross References
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

Psalm 91:15
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

Matthew 7:7-11
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. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ...

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You. / Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.


Treasury of Scripture

I would seek to God, and to God would I commit my cause:

seek.

Job 8:5
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

Job 22:21,27
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee…

Genesis 32:7-12
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; …

unto God.

Psalm 37:5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

2 Timothy 1:12
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

1 Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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Job 5
1. Eliphaz shows that the end of the wicked is misery;
6. that man is born to trouble;
8. that God is to be regarded in affliction;
17. the happy end of God's correction.














However, if I were you,
This phrase is part of a speech by Eliphaz, one of Job's friends. Eliphaz is offering advice to Job, who is suffering immensely. The phrase suggests a personal perspective, indicating that Eliphaz is speaking from his own understanding and experience. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, friends and family often provided counsel during times of distress, reflecting a communal approach to problem-solving.

I would appeal to God
Eliphaz encourages Job to turn to God in his time of need. This reflects the belief in the sovereignty and omnipotence of God, a central tenet in the Hebrew Scriptures. The act of appealing to God is seen throughout the Bible, such as in the prayers of the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 5:2-3) and the supplications of the prophets. It underscores the importance of seeking divine intervention and guidance.

and lay my cause before Him—
This phrase emphasizes the act of presenting one's troubles and grievances directly to God. It reflects the biblical principle of casting one's burdens upon the Lord, as seen in Psalm 55:22. The idea of laying one's cause before God is also reminiscent of the legal language used in the Psalms and prophetic literature, where God is often depicted as a judge who hears and decides cases. This act of laying one's cause before God is a demonstration of faith and trust in His justice and mercy.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A 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 loss.

2. Eliphaz the Temanite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. Eliphaz is the speaker in Job 5:8, offering advice to Job based on his understanding of God's justice and righteousness.

3. Teman
A region in Edom, known for its wise men. Eliphaz, being a Temanite, is considered to be a man of wisdom and understanding.

4. God
The Almighty Creator, whom Eliphaz advises Job to appeal to. God is central to the account as the one who ultimately restores Job.

5. The Suffering of Job
The context of this verse is Job's immense suffering, having lost his wealth, children, and health. This event sets the stage for the dialogues between Job and his friends.
Teaching Points
Appeal to God in Times of Trouble
Eliphaz's advice to Job is a timeless principle: in times of distress, our first response should be to turn to God. This reflects a posture of humility and dependence on divine wisdom and power.

Lay Your Cause Before Him
Presenting our concerns to God involves honest and open communication. It is an act of faith, trusting that God hears and cares for our situation.

Understanding God's Sovereignty
While Eliphaz's understanding of Job's situation is flawed, his advice to seek God acknowledges God's ultimate control and wisdom. Recognizing God's sovereignty can bring peace amidst trials.

The Role of Friends in Suffering
Eliphaz's role as a friend highlights the importance of community and support during difficult times. However, it also serves as a caution to offer counsel that is empathetic and aligned with God's truth.Verse 8. - I would seek unto God; rather, as in the Revised Version; but as for me, I would seek etc.; i.e. if the case were mine, if I were afflicted as thou art, I would not betake myself to any of the angels (see ver. 1), but would cast myself wholly upon God. It is necessarily implied that Job had not done so. And unto God would I commit my cause (comp. Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 16:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
However,
אוּלָ֗ם (’ū·lām)
Conjunction
Strong's 199: However, on the contrary

if I were you,
אֲ֭נִי (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

I would appeal
אֶדְרֹ֣שׁ (’eḏ·rōš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

God
אֵ֑ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

and lay
אָשִׂ֥ים (’ā·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my cause
דִּבְרָתִֽי׃ (diḇ·rā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1700: A cause, reason, manner

before
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Him
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Poetry: Job 5:8 But as for me I would seek (Jb)
Job 5:7
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