Job 23:13

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But he is unchangeable; who can turn him back? He does what he desires.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְה֣וּא בְ֭אֶחָד וּמִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ אִוְּתָ֣ה וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃

Transliteration

wə-hûʾ bəʾeḥād û-mî yəšîbennu wə-napšô ʾiwwətâ wayyāʿaś

Grammar Details

• *wə-hûʾ*: conjunction + 3rd masculine singular pronoun - and he
• *bəʾeḥād*: preposition + adjective/number, masculine singular - in one/alone
• *û-mî*: conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and who
• *yəšîbennu*: Hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - can turn him back
• *wə-napšô*: conjunction + noun, feminine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - and his soul
• *ʾiwwətâ*: Piel perfect, 3rd feminine singular - desires
• *wayyāʿaś*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he does

Word Meanings

• *ʾeḥād*: one, single, united, alone, unique
• *šûb*: to turn back, return, restore
• *nepeš*: soul, self, life, person, desire, appetite
• *ʾāwâ*: to desire, crave, long for, wish
• *ʿāśâ*: to do, make, accomplish, perform

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But he is of one mind, and who can change him? And whatever his soul desires, that he does.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But he is in one{H259} [mind], and who can turn{H7725} him? And what his soul{H5315} desireth,{H183} even that he doeth.{H6213}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But he is in one{H259} mind, and who can turn{H7725}{(H8686)} him? and what his soul{H5315} desireth{H183}{(H8765)}, even that he doeth{H6213}{(H8799)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  It is he himself alone, who will turne him back? He doth as him listeth, and bryngeth to passe what he wil.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Yet he is in one minde, & who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  He is still at one poynt, and who can turne him? he doth as him listeth, and bringeth to passe what he will.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And He `is' in one `mind', And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth `it'.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But he is in one `mind', and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 115:3 : 3 Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
• Num 23:19-20 : 19 'God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?' 20 'Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.'
• Job 12:14 : 14 "What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be set free."
• Prov 19:21 : 21 Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that will prevail.
• Eccl 1:15 : 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
• Eccl 3:14 : 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it nor taken from it. God does this so that people will fear Him.
• Isa 14:24-27 : 24 The LORD of Hosts has sworn: 'Surely as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.' 25 I will break Assyria in My land and trample him on My mountains. Then his yoke will be taken off their shoulders, and his burden removed from their necks. 26 This is the plan determined for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
• Isa 46:10 : 10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I desire.'
• Job 34:29 : 29 When He gives quietness, who can condemn? When He hides His face, who can behold Him? Yet He watches over both nation and man alike.
• Job 9:12-13 : 12 If He snatches away, who can stop Him? Who can say to Him, 'What are You doing? 13 God will not turn back His anger; even the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath Him.
• Job 11:10 : 10 If He passes by, imprisons, or calls an assembly, who can turn Him back?
• Ps 135:6 : 6 The LORD does whatever pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all the depths.
• Rom 9:19 : 19 You will say to me then, 'Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?'
• Eph 1:9-9 : 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 for the administration of the fullness of the times, to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth—in Him. 11 In Him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
• Jas 1:17 : 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.