Job 23:13
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But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Some make Job to complain here that God dealt unjustly and unfairly with him in proceeding to punish him without the least relenting or relaxation, though he had such incontestable evidences to produce of his innocency. I am loth to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly with him, but he must bear it because he cannot help it; the worst he says is that God deals unaccountably with him. I. He lays down good truths, and truths which were capable of a good improvement, Job 23:13, Job 23:14. 1. That God's counsels are immutable: He is in one mind, and who can turn him? He is one (so some read it) or in one; he has no counsellors by whose interest he might be prevailed with to alter his purpose: he has no counsellors by whose interest he might be prevailed with to alter his purpose: he is one with himself, and never alters his mind, never alters his measures. Prayer has prevailed to change God's way and his providence, but never was his will or purpose changed; for known unto God are all his works. 2. That his power is irresistible: What his soul desires or designs even that he does, and nothing can stand in his way or put him upon new counsels. Men desire many things which they may not do, or cannot do, or dare not do. But God has an incontestable sovereignty; his will is so perfectly pure and right that it is highly fit he should pursue all its determinations. And he has an uncontrollable power. None can stay his hand. Whatever the Lord pleased that did he (Psa 135:6), and always will, for it is always best. 3. That all he does is according to the counsel of his will (Job 23:14): He perfo…
Open source ↗23:13-14 No one can change God’s mind (9:12-13; 11:10; 12:14; 34:29; Num 23:19-20; Jas 1:17).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.
What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,