Job 9:33

Modern

Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

Traditional

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Literal

There is not a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon the two of us,

Latin

Non est qui utrumque valeat arguere, et ponere manum suam in ambobus.

Hebrew

English

Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

A mediator does not judge God and man. Instead, the mediator helps bring them together (see 16:19–21).

Job answered Bildad by describing God's universal and legal power. His speech resembles a complex legal case.

It includes:

A summons and response (9:3, 14–16, 19b, 32).
The risk of proving himself guilty (9:20).
A "mediator" (9:33–34).
A question of accusation (9:12).
A legal sentence (9:22).
A declaration of guilt (9:28–30).

Theme notes and profiles

1 Samuel 2:25
If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.
Job 9:19
If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
1 John 2:1–2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.
1 Kings 3:16–28
At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.