Job 9:20

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אִם־אֶ֭צְדָּק פִּ֣י יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי תָּֽם־אָ֝֗נִי וַֽיַּעְקְשֵֽׁנִי׃

Transliteration

ʾim-ʾeṣdāq pî yaršîʿēnî tām-ʾānî wa-yaʿqəšēnî

Grammar Details

• *ʾim-ʾeṣdāq*: conditional particle + qal imperfect 1st person singular - if I justify myself
• *pî*: masculine singular noun + 1st person singular suffix - my mouth
• *yaršîʿēnî*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix - will condemn me
• *tām-ʾānî*: adjective masculine singular + 1st person singular independent pronoun - blameless am I
• *wa-yaʿqəšēnî*: conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix - yet he will declare me crooked

Word Meanings

• *ʾeṣdāq*: to be right, be just, be righteous
• *pî*: mouth, opening, speech
• *yaršîʿēnî*: to declare guilty, condemn, prove wrong
• *tām*: complete, blameless, perfect
• *yaʿqəšēnî*: to twist, pervert, make crooked

Referenced Verses

• Job 34:35 : 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
• Job 15:5-6 : 5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
• Job 32:1-2 : 1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
• Job 33:8-9 : 8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
• Job 1:1 : 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
• Job 4:17 : 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
• Job 9:2 : 2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
• Job 35:16 : 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
• Ps 130:3 : 3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
• Ps 143:2 : 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
• Prov 10:19 : 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
• Prov 17:20 : 20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
• Isa 6:5 : 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
• Matt 12:36-37 : 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
• Luke 10:29 : 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
• Luke 16:15 : 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
• Phil 3:12-15 : 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
• 1 Tim 6:5 : 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
• Jas 3:2 : 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.