Job 9:16
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
קָרָ֥אתִי
If I had called
H7121
קָרָ֥אתִי
If I had called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
2 of 8
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי
and he had answered
H6030
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי
and he had answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אַ֝אֲמִ֗ין
me yet would I not believe
H539
אַ֝אֲמִ֗ין
me yet would I not believe
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern religions featured divine-human communication through dreams, visions, prophets, and oracles. Job's skepticism about divine response even if received reflects how suffering undermines confidence in traditional means of divine-human interaction.
Questions for Reflection
- How does prolonged suffering erode our capacity to receive comfort, even from God?
- What objective evidences of God's faithfulness can sustain us when subjective feelings fail?
- In what ways does Christ's resurrection provide the unshakable proof Job longed for?
Analysis & Commentary
Job doubts God would answer his call: 'If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.' Even if God responded (anah, עָנָה), Job couldn't trust it. The phrase 'would I not believe' (lo aamin, לֹא אֲאַמִין) expresses radical doubt born from suffering. 'Hearkened' (azan, אָזַן) means to give ear or pay attention—Job doubts divine attentiveness despite hypothetical response.
Job's despair reaches depths where even divine communication seems untrustworthy. Suffering has so distorted his perception that God's voice would seem either illusion or mockery. This illustrates suffering's psychological toll—it damages not merely circumstance but the capacity to receive comfort. Job's integrity remains, but his hope erodes. He cannot imagine relief being genuine.
The gospel addresses this: Christ's resurrection provides objective proof of divine faithfulness beyond subjective feeling (1 Corinthians 15:17). Job needs not merely God's voice but tangible evidence of divine favor. He'll receive it in restoration (chapter 42), but first must encounter God in theophany (chapters 38-41). Sometimes God answers not with explanation but with presence.