Understanding Job 9:33

Job 9:33 states: "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." This verse reflects Job's desire for an intermediary to mediate between himself and God during his time of suffering. In this summary, we will explore the meaning of this verse using insights from public domain commentaries such as those by Matthew Henry, Albert Barnes, and Adam Clarke.

Contextual Overview

The Book of Job addresses profound themes of suffering and divine justice. Job, a man of integrity, finds himself in great agony, questioning God about his circumstances. In this moment of despair, he expresses the need for a mediator, someone who can intercede on his behalf.

Commentary Insights

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry emphasizes the absence of a "daysman"—a term that connotes an arbitrator or mediator. He highlights the desperation in Job's plea; Job feels isolated from God without someone to intercede. Henry explains that this longing for a mediator points to the necessity of Christ in the New Testament, who ultimately fulfills this role as our advocate before the Father.

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes offers an interpretation that focuses on the legal context of a daysman. He notes that Job understands his own limitations and stands in need of a representative to confront God’s justice. Barnes discusses how Job’s sense of injustice drives his desire for someone to bridge the gap between human frailty and divine majesty, suggesting that this verse speaks to the broader human experience of seeking to resolve conflicts in our relationship with God.

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke elaborates on the emotional aspect of Job's cry, explaining that the verse encapsulates Job's pain and yearning for understanding. Clarke posits that this absence of a daysman reflects Job’s feelings of abandonment and the idea that no human could adequately mediate with God on his behalf. Clarke further ties this to the redemptive work of Christ, who is our eternal mediator, making it clear that Job's plea foreshadows the need for divine intercession.

Bible Cross-References

• 1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
• Hebrews 4:14-16: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God..."
• Romans 8:34: "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
• Job 16:21: "Oh that a man might plead with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!"
• Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities..."
• Psalm mediator, representing our interests before God. This concept is central to understanding the nature of God’s relationship with humanity, particularly in times of distress.
• Hebrews 7:25: "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."