Then:This word indicates a continuation of the dialogue between Job and his friends. It follows Bildad's speech in
Job 8, where Bildad argues that suffering is a result of sin and urges Job to repent. The use of "then" shows that Job is responding directly to the arguments presented to him, maintaining the flow of the discourse.
Job:
Job is the central figure of the book, described as a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil (Job 1:1). His name is synonymous with patience and endurance in suffering. Job's character and experiences are often seen as a type of Christ, who also suffered despite being righteous. Job's story is set in the land of Uz, which is believed to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia, though its exact location is uncertain.
Answered:
This indicates that Job is engaging in a dialogue, a common literary form in wisdom literature. The book of Job is structured as a series of speeches and responses, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern practice of disputation. Job's response is not just a reply to Bildad but also a continuation of his struggle to understand his suffering in light of his faith in God. This dialogue format allows for the exploration of deep theological questions about justice, suffering, and divine sovereignty.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JobA man described in the Bible as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith.
2.
UzThe land where Job lived. It is often associated with the region east of Israel, though its exact location is uncertain.
3.
Job's FriendsEliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who come to comfort Job but end up engaging in a series of dialogues with him about the nature of suffering and God's justice.
4.
GodThe sovereign Creator who allows Job's faith to be tested by Satan, yet ultimately restores him.
5.
SatanThe adversary who challenges Job's righteousness, suggesting that Job is faithful only because of his prosperity.
Teaching Points
Understanding Human LimitationJob's response in 9:1 sets the stage for a discourse on the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine wisdom. We must recognize our finite perspective and trust in God's infinite wisdom.
The Reality of SufferingJob's situation reminds us that suffering is a part of the human experience, even for the righteous. It challenges us to maintain faith and integrity amidst trials.
The Importance of Honest Dialogue with GodJob's willingness to speak openly about his struggles encourages believers to bring their questions and doubts to God, trusting in His understanding and compassion.
The Role of Friends in Times of TrialJob's interactions with his friends highlight the importance of providing genuine support and encouragement, rather than judgment, to those who are suffering.
Faith in God's JusticeDespite his suffering, Job's account ultimately points to a faith in God's justice and righteousness, encouraging believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and purpose.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Job 9:1?
2.How does Job 9:1 reflect Job's understanding of God's justice and power?
3.What does Job 9:1 teach about human limitations before God?
4.How can Job 9:1 guide us in approaching God with humility today?
5.Connect Job 9:1 with Romans 3:23 on human sinfulness and God's righteousness.
6.How can acknowledging God's greatness in Job 9:1 impact our daily prayer life?
7.How does Job 9:1 address the concept of human righteousness before God?
8.What does Job 9:1 reveal about Job's understanding of divine justice?
9.How does Job 9:1 fit into the broader theme of suffering in the Book of Job?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 9?
11.If Job 20:19-20 suggests a direct correlation between greed and swift downfall, why do some wealthy exploiters seem to thrive indefinitely without facing apparent divine retribution?
12.Job 1:12 - How can a benevolent God allow Satan to inflict suffering on a blameless man as part of a wager?
13.In light of Job 35:16, why would a merciful God remain silent if Job's pleas are without merit, given other scriptures showing God responding to human need?
14.Why does Job 28 offer poetic descriptions of wisdom's source without reconciling them with scientific or pagan wisdom traditions of the time?What Does Job 9:1 Mean
Then“Then Job answered:” (Job 9:1) opens with a time marker that ties Job’s words to what has just happened—Bildad’s hard-edged speech about God’s justice (Job 8).
• The word “then” reminds us the conversation is unfolding in real time; Job is not speaking into a vacuum but responding to real accusations, just as Moses spoke “then” to Pharaoh after each setback (Exodus 5:1) and as Jesus answered the Pharisees after they questioned Him (Matthew 12:22-24, 38).
• It shows the orderly flow of discourse: Eliphaz spoke (Job 4–5), Job replied (Job 6–7); Bildad spoke (Job 8); now “then” Job speaks again (Job 9–10). Scripture often tracks such back-and-forth to reveal hearts—compareActs 15:7 where “after much discussion, Peter stood up.”
• The timing also underscores Job’s endurance. Instead of collapsing under criticism, he continues to engage, echoingEcclesiastes 3:7, “a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
JobThe speaker is the same righteous sufferer introduced earlier: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job…blameless and upright” (Job 1:1).
• His reputation remains intact before God even after calamity (Job 2:3), affirming integrity amid confusion.
• Other passages honor him as an exemplar of steadfast faith—Ezekiel 14:14 pairs him with Noah and Daniel, andJames 5:11 holds him up as proof “the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
• Remembering who Job is keeps us from misreading his raw questions as rebellion; they are the cries of a man God Himself calls “My servant” (Job 42:7-8).
• Job’s name resurfaces repeatedly—“Job replied” (Job 6:1; 12:1; 16:1, etc.)—highlighting that God values an honest dialogue with His people.
AnsweredTo “answer” is more than to talk; it is to engage, reason, and wrestle with truth.
• Job answers Bildad, but ultimately he is answering the deeper issue of God’s justice. His response blends humility and boldness: “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2).
• Scripture often commends thoughtful answers—“A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1) and “always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks” (1 Peter 3:15). Job embodies this readiness, offering a reasoned defense of his integrity without cursing God.
• The form is important: Job does not lash out; he engages point by point, much like Paul’s reasoned defenses before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26).
• By answering, Job models faith that seeks understanding, echoing the psalmist who pours out his complaint yet clings to God’s faithfulness (Psalm 142:2; 77:1-12).
summary“Then Job answered:” frames Job’s next speech as a timely, personal, and thoughtful response. “Then” places it in the living flow of dialogue; “Job” reminds us a tested yet upright man is speaking; “answered” reveals a courageous engagement with deep questions about God’s justice. The verse is a doorway into Job’s profound meditation on God’s greatness and the riddle of human suffering, inviting readers to honest conversation with the Lord who welcomes our questions and sustains our faith.
Verses 1-35. - Job, in answer to Bildad, admits the truth of his arguments, but declines to attempt the justification which can alone entitle him to accept the favourable side of Bildad's alternative. Man cannot absolutely justify himself before God. It is in vain to attempt to do so. The contest is too unequal. On the one side perfect wisdom and absolute strength (ver. 4); on the other, weakness, imperfection, ignorance. guilt (vers. 17-20). And no "daysman," or umpire, between them; no third party to hold the balance even, and preside authoritatively over the controversy, and see that justice is done (vers. 33-35). Were it otherwise, Job would not shrink from the controversy; but he thinks it ill arguing with omnipotent power. What he seems to lack is the absolute conviction expressed by Abraham in the emphatic words'" Shall not the Judge of all the earth
doright?" (
Genesis 18:25).
Verses 1, 2. -
And Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth. "I freely admit," is., "all that has been said." God would not cast away a perfectly righteous man (
Job 8:20); and, of course, he punishes evil-doers. But, applied practically, what is the result?
How should man be just with God? or,
beforeGod? Apart from any knowledge of the doctrine of original or inherited sin, each man feels, deep in his heart, that he is sinful - "a chief of sinners." Bradford looks upon the murderer as he mounts the scaffold, and says, "But for the grace of God, there goes John Bradford!" Job has a similar conviction, that in the sight of God, righteousness, such as it is, shrinks away into insignificance, and is as nothing, cannot anyhow be relied upon. Such must be the attitude before God of every human soul that is not puffed up with pride or utterly insensate and sunk in apathy.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then Jobאִיּ֗וֹב(’î·yō·wḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347:Job -- a patriarchanswered:וַיַּ֥עַן(way·ya·‘an)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030:To answer, respond
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OT Poetry: Job 9:1 Then Job answered (Jb) 
