Job 16:21
New International Version
on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.

New Living Translation
I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.

English Standard Version
that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.

Berean Standard Bible
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

King James Bible
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

New King James Version
Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for his neighbor!

New American Standard Bible
That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor!

NASB 1995
“O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

NASB 1977
“O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

Legacy Standard Bible
O that a man might argue with God As a man with his neighbor!

Amplified Bible
“Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me] Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.

Christian Standard Bible
I wish that someone might argue for a man with God just as anyone would for a friend.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I wish that someone might arbitrate between a man and God just as a man pleads for his friend.

American Standard Version
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But, oh, that a son of man might blame God, as a man his neighbor!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbor!

Contemporary English Version
to show that I am right, just as a friend should.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

English Revised Version
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbour!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But my witness will plead for a human in front of God. The Son of Man will plead for his friend!

Good News Translation
I want someone to plead with God for me, as one pleads for a friend.

International Standard Version
crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.

JPS Tanakh 1917
That He would set aright a man contending with God, As a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!

Literal Standard Version
And He reasons for a man with God, | As a son of man for his friend.

Majority Standard Bible
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

New American Bible
That justice may be done for a mortal with God: as for a man with his neighbor.

NET Bible
and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.

New Revised Standard Version
that he would maintain the right of a mortal with God, as one does for a neighbor.

New Heart English Bible
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor.

Webster's Bible Translation
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!

World English Bible
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

Young's Literal Translation
And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Decries his Comforters
20My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God. 21Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor! 22For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.…

Cross References
Job 16:20
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

Job 16:22
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.


Treasury of Scripture

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

plead

Job 9:34,35
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: …

Job 13:3,22
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God…

Job 23:3-7
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …

neighbour.

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Aright Behalf Cause Contending Decision Friend Maintain Neighbor Neighbour Plead Pleadeth Pleads Right
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Aright Behalf Cause Contending Decision Friend Maintain Neighbor Neighbour Plead Pleadeth Pleads Right
Job 16
1. Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness
17. He maintains his innocence














Verse 21. - Oh that one might plead for a man with God! The original here is obscure. It may mean, Oh that he (i.e. God himself) would plead for a man with God! i.e. would become a Mediator between himself and man, plead for him, undertake his defence, and obtain for him merciful consideration. Or, nearly as in the Authorized Version, Oh that one might plead for man (i.e. mankind at large) with God! interest him on their behalf, and obtain a merciful judgment for them. The former rendering is to be preferred. As a man pleadeth for his neighbour; literally, as a son of man (or, as the Son of man) pleadeth for his neighbour. If we take the simpler rendering, "as a son of man," then the meaning is simply, "Oh that God would plead for man with himself, as a man is wont to plead for his fellow-man!" But if we prefer the other rendering, "as the Son of man," a Messianic interpretation will be necessary. (So Professor Lee and Dr. Stanley Leathes) But Messianic interpretations of passages that do not require them, and that have no such traditional interpretation, require extreme caution.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Oh, that a man
לְגֶ֣בֶר (lə·ḡe·ḇer)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1397: A valiant man, warrior, a person simply

might plead
וְיוֹכַ֣ח (wə·yō·w·ḵaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

God
אֱל֑וֹהַּ (’ĕ·lō·w·ah)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 433: God -- a deity, the Deity

as [he] [pleads]
וּֽבֶן־ (ū·ḇen-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

with his neighbor!
לְרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (lə·rê·‘ê·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow


Links
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OT Poetry: Job 16:21 That he would maintain the right (Jb)
Job 16:20
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