The Meaning of Job 23:10 Explained

Job 23:10

KJV: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

YLT: For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.

Darby: But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

ASV: But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But he knoweth  the way  that I take:  [when] he hath tried  me, I shall come forth  as gold. 

What does Job 23:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 23:1-17 - "he Knoweth The Way That I Take"
This chapter is threaded by a sublime faith. Job admitted that his complaint seemed rebellious, but God's hand had been heavy on him. From the misunderstandings of his friends, he longs for the calm, holy presence of God Himself.
It seemed as if nothing would content the sufferer but a personal audience with the Almighty. He felt that he could plead his cause there without fear. He was sure that his Almighty Judge would not contend against him with His great power, but would listen to him. Yet it seemed impossible to find Him. Job did not realize that he was already in God's audience-room. We are made nigh through Jesus Christ. God hides Himself, because mortal eyes could not bear the burning glory of His presence. But though we fail to see Him, we are never for a moment out of His view. He knows the way that we take. Speak to Him, weary, suffering soul; the Lord is at hand!
It was not a mere self-righteous boast that the sufferer made in Job 23:7; Job 23:11-12. David also used similar words of himself, Psalms 18:20-23. We are always sinners, needing the precious blood; but we may be very thankful if we have been kept from "the great transgression." Yet the perfect man is still troubled in the divine presence, and his heart becomes faint, Job 23:15-16, unless he can claim something more than creature or natural goodness. "On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand." [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 23

1  Job longs to appear before God
6  in confidence of his mercy
8  God, who is invisible, observes our ways
11  Job's innocence
13  God's decree is immutable

What do the individual words in Job 23:10 mean?

But He knows the way that I take [when] He has tested me as gold I shall come forth
כִּֽי־ יָ֭דַע דֶּ֣רֶךְ עִמָּדִ֑י בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִי כַּזָּהָ֥ב אֵצֵֽא

יָ֭דַע  He  knows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
דֶּ֣רֶךְ  the  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
עִמָּדִ֑י  that  I  take 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עִמָּד  
Sense: with.
בְּ֝חָנַ֗נִי  [when]  He  has  tested  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
כַּזָּהָ֥ב  as  gold 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
אֵצֵֽא  I  shall  come  forth 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.