Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

JOB 6:23KJV
Know the Bible

Job 6:23 (KJV)

What does Job 6:23 mean?

Job 6:23 records Job asking if he has ever demanded that his friends rescue him from danger or redeem him from powerful enemies. Job’s point is that he has not asked for extraordinary help, only for understanding and kindness.

Job is speaking to his friends, who have come to comfort him but instead criticize him. In this verse, Job highlights that he never expected them to deliver (save) or redeem (buy back) him from trouble; he only wants their compassion as he suffers.

The Hebrew behind Job 6:23

  • "Deliver" (נָצַל, natsal, H4422) means to snatch away or rescue. Job uses this word to show he is not asking his friends to physically save him from harm.
  • "Redeem" (פָּדָה, padah, H6299) means to buy back or ransom. Job is saying he has not asked them to pay a price or intervene with the powerful ("the mighty") on his behalf.
  • "Enemy's" (צָר, tsar, H6862) and "mighty" (עָרִיץ, arits, H6184) both refer to strong opponents, but "arits" often carries the sense of someone who is ruthless or formidable, emphasizing the power imbalance Job faces.

Why Job 6:23 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that Job is demanding too much from his friends; he is only seeking empathy, not rescue.
  • Job’s words highlight the limits of what friends can do in suffering—they cannot always fix the problem, but they can offer support.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing Job’s frustration with his friends’ lack of understanding and their misplaced advice.

Where else these words appear

“mighty” Hebrew H6184 · used in 20 verses

  • Job 15:20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
  • Isaiah 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
  • Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

“Redeem” Hebrew H6299 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
  • Deuteronomy 24:18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
  • Psalms 55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

“Deliver” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
  • Isaiah 46:2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

“enemy's” Hebrew H6862 · used in 102 verses

  • Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  • Psalms 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
  • Proverbs 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.