Job 33:10 — Word Study
WLCהֵ֣ן תְּ֭נוּאוֹת עָלַ֣י יִמְצָ֑א יַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי לְאוֹיֵ֣ב לֽוֹ׃
BSAYethên [God] findsmâtsâʼ▸ [the Almighty, our Creator, discovers, comes upon] ◂occasionstᵉnûwʼâh [reasons for complaint, opposition] against meʻal He counts mechâshab▸ [considers, regards] enemyʼôyêb [adversary, one who opposes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֵ֣ן | here! | Particle |
| תְּ֭נוּאוֹת | occasions | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| עָלַ֣י | on me | Preposition, suffix |
| יִמְצָ֑א | he finds | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| יַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי | he considers me | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| לְאוֹיֵ֣ב | to an enemy | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| לֽוֹ׃ | of him | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. |
| KJV | Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, |
| ASV | Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy; |
| YLT | Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him, |
| WEB | Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. |
| BBE | See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters; |
Where they part company is תְּנוּאוֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by a prepositional phrase and a verb phrase, indicating the direct relationship between God's actions and Job's feelings.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָצָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 33:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Plea to Godgenerated
Job 33:10 reflects Job's anguish as he perceives God as finding reasons to accuse him. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job asserts his innocence while grappling with the suffering he endures. The surrounding verses reveal Job's struggle with his friends' accusations and his desire for a fair hearing from God, as he states in Job 33:9 that he is pure and without transgression.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 9:30–31 | If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, |
| 2 | Job 10:15–17 | If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction. |
| 3 | Job 13:25 | Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? |
| 4 | Job 14:16 | For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin. |
| 5 | Job 34:5 | For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תְּנוּאוֹת, Te.nu.'otgenerated
The noun תְּנוּאוֹת (Te.nu.'ot) is a feminine plural form derived from the root associated with opposition and conflict. It signifies occasions or reasons for complaint, indicating a state of enmity or alienation.
In this verse, it highlights Job's perception of God as finding fault with him, suggesting a breach in their relationship. The use of this term underscores the emotional weight of Job's claim that he is being treated as an adversary.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses finds occasions and aligns with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a main clause governed by the verb יִמְצָא, he finds, with two objects: תְּנוּאוֹת, occasions, and נִי, me. The structure indicates that God actively finds reasons against Job, which is central to the verse's meaning.
The prepositional phrase עָלַי, against me, adds a layer of personal conflict, indicating that the occasions are directed specifically at Job.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, תְּנוּאוֹת is rendered as μέμψιν, which implies a sense of blame or accusation. This choice suggests a more accusatory tone than the Hebrew, highlighting Job's feeling of being unjustly targeted.
The Greek translation emphasizes the adversarial nature of Job's relationship with God, aligning with his lament of being treated as an enemy.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 33:10 shows Job expressing his feelings that God has found reasons to oppose him and considers him an enemy. This reflects Job's deep sense of injustice and his struggle to understand his suffering in light of his perceived innocence.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing his feeling that God has discovered reasons to accuse him, suggesting a sense of being unjustly treated.
Job feels alienated and treated as an adversary by God, which adds to his anguish.
The term 'enemy' indicates a severe breakdown in Job's relationship with God, highlighting his feelings of betrayal and conflict.
The surrounding verses show Job's insistence on his innocence and his desire for a fair hearing, providing context for his lament.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond when I feel unjustly accused or treated by others?
- What can I learn from Job's honesty in expressing his feelings to God?
- In what ways do I see conflict in my own relationships, and how can I address it?
- How might I approach God with my own feelings of alienation or misunderstanding?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 33:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBehold, he findeth occasions against me,.... That is, sought in order to find them; so Job in some places suggests, that God inquired after his sins, and sought diligently after them, that he might
Read John Gill on Job 33 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBehold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, Occasions - for hostility: literally, enmities (Job 13:24; Job 16:9; Job 19:11; Job 30:21). [ tªnuw'owt (H8569)]
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 33 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe picketh quarrels with me, and watcheth over and searcheth after all my errors and frailties, as Job said, 14:16,17; severely marking what is amiss in me, that thence he may take occasion to punish me worse than mine iniquities deserve. Though I have endeavoured to be his friend and faithful servant all my days, yet he treats me like an enemy. This Job said 19:11.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 33 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 33:10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,Ver. 10. Behold, he findeth occasions against me] Or, breaches; he picks quarrels with me, and would fain find out somewhat in my carriage wherefore to break friendship with me, and to break me in pieces. But did Job ever say in this sort? Not expressly so; but by consequence, and to the same purpose, Job 9:17; Job 13:24; Job 14:17; Job 16:9; Job 19:11. He counteth me for his enemy] This indeed he had said, and somewhat more, Job 13:24; Job 16:9; Job 30:21, as if God, of his mere pleasure, had made cruel wars upon him, and exercised all kind of hostility against him, as a vanquished enemy.
Read John Trapp on Job 33 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) Behold, he findeth occasions against me.—See Job 13:24; Job 13:26-27; Job 19:11.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 33 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. See ch. Job 10:13 seq., Job 13:24, Job 19:11, Job 30:21. he findeth occasions] lit. enmities, i. e. grounds of enmity or hostility; he “findeth” is almost equivalent to He “invents.” Coverdale quaintly, “he hath pyked a quarell agaynst me.”
Read Cambridge on Job 33 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBehold, he findeth occasions against me - That is, God. This is not exactly the language of Job, though much that he had said had seemed to imply this.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 33 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10. Occasions — Rather, enmities, hostilities.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 33 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy!
Tyndale line
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy;
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
Strictly literal
Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
Behold, He develops hindrances against me, || He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
See, God finds opportunities to attack me; he regards me as his enemy.
From the Latin
Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
Simplified
See how God finds fault with me and treats me as his enemy.
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads הֵ֣ן תְּ֭נוּאוֹת עָלַ֣י יִמְצָ֑א יַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי לְאוֹיֵ֣ב לֽוֹ׃. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words, but its structure differs from the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations that align with the Masoretic Text.
הֵ֣ן תְּ֭נוּאוֹת עָלַ֣י יִמְצָ֑א יַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי לְאוֹיֵ֣ב לֽוֹ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[הן] [תנואות] [על׳י] ימצא יחשב׳ני [לאויב] [ל׳ו]
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 33:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הֵן (hen) is a demonstrative adverb or interjection meaning 'lo!' or 'behold!'. It is primarily used to draw attention to a fact that prompts action or leads to a conclusion. The word can also express surprise and is less common than its counterpart הִנֵּה (hinneh). Additionally, it can function hypothetically as 'if'.
הֵן 100 demonstr.adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
base
H2005 הֵן demonstr. adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based
2005 hen hane
a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise)
if:--behold, if, lo, though.
הֵן (hen) — look!.
interj
1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part
2) if
Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)
Part — ParticleHTj
her, in composition:
תְּנוּאָה (tnuw'ah) refers to concepts of opposition, alienation, and enmity. It is derived from the root word associated with alienation and can imply a breach of promise or occasion for conflict. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to opposition.
[תְּנוּאָה] n.f. opposition
base
H8569 תְּנוּאָה
8569 tnuw'ah ten-oo-aw'
from 5106; alienation; by implication, enmity:--breach of
promise, occasion.
see HEBREW for 05106
תְּנוּאָה (te.nu.ah) — opposition.
opposition, alienation, enmity
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.
מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find
Qal
find
find out
= come upon, light upon
noteworthy phrases
Niph. pass. of Qal, be found
Hiph.
cause to find, attain
cause to light upon, come upon, come
cause to encounter
present unto
base
H4672 מָצָא attain to, find
4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'
a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or
exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;
figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,
befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to
hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,
out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,
light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,
ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.
1) to find, attain to
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to find
1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)
1a1b) to find (what is lost)
1a1c) to meet, encounter
1a1d) to find (a condition)
1a1e) to learn, devise
1a2) to find out
1a2a) to find out
1a2b) to detect
1a2c) to guess
1a3) to come upon, light upon
1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with
1a3b) to hit
1a3c) to befall
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be found
1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered
1b1b) to appear, be recognised
1b1c) to be discovered, be detected
1b1d) to be gained, be secured
1b2) to be, be found
1b2a) to be found in
1b2b) to be in the possession of
1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be
1b2d) to be left (after war)
1b2e) to be present
1b2f) to prove to be
1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to find, attain
1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come
1c3) to cause to encounter
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
The Hebrew word חָשַׁב (chashab) is a primitive root meaning to think, account, or devise. It encompasses a range of actions including planning, valuing, and inventing, both for humans and in relation to God. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, each reflecting different nuances of thought and consideration.
חָשַׁב vb. think, account
Qal
of man:
think, account
devise, plan, mean
charge, impute
esteem, value, regard
invent ingenious and artistic things
of God:
think
devise, plan, mean
inpute, reckon
esteem, value, regard
invent ingenious and artistic things
Niph.
be accounted, thought, esteemed
be computed, reckoned
be imputed to any one
Pi.
think upon, consider, be mindful of
think to do, devise, plan
count, reckon, the years since a sale of land
Hithp. among the nations it shall not reckon itself
base
H2803 חָשַׁב think, account .. of man: . think, account
. devise, plan, mean
. charge, impute
. esteem, value, regard
. invent ingenious and artistic things
. of God: . think
. devise, plan, mean
. inpute, reckon
. esteem, value, regard
. invent ingenious and artistic things
. . be accounted, thought, esteemed
. be computed, reckoned
. be imputed to any one
. . think upon, consider, be mindful of
. think to do, devise, plan
. count, reckon, the years since a sale of land
. among the nations it shall not reckon itself
2803 chashab khaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e.
(literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to
plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from
the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute:--(make)
account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work,
workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine,
impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made),
regard, think.
חָשַׁב (cha.shav) — to devise: design.
: design/skillful
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to think, account
1a2) to plan, devise, mean
1a3) to charge, impute, reckon
1a4) to esteem, value, regard
1a5) to invent
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
1b2) to be computed, be reckoned
1b3) to be imputed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of
1c2) to think to do, devise, plan
1c3) to count, reckon
1d) (Hithpael) to be considered
חָשַׁב (cha.shav) — to devise: count.
: count/regard_as
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to think, account
1a2) to plan, devise, mean
1a3) to charge, impute, reckon
1a4) to esteem, value, regard
1a5) to invent
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
1b2) to be computed, be reckoned
1b3) to be imputed
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp1bs
אֹיֵב (oyeb) means 'enemy' or 'foe,' indicating hostility. It can refer to personal or national adversaries. The word is derived from the active participle of another root, אָיַב (ayab), which also conveys the sense of being hostile.
[אָיַב] 283 vb. be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
base
H341 אָיַב be hostile to (enemy = אֹיֵב)
341 'oyeb o-yabe'
or (fully) owyeb {o-yabe'}; active participle of 340;
hating; an adversary:--enemy, foe.
see HEBREW for 0340
אֹיֵב (o.yev) — enemy.
1) (Qal) enemy
1a) personal
1b) national
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine singularHR/Vqrmsa
en'-e-mi ('oyebh, tsar, tsar; echthros):
"Enemy," "enemies," are frequent words in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word most often so translated is 'oyebh, meaning perhaps literally, "one who hates"; very frequent in the Psalms, eg. 3:7; 6:10; 7:5; 8:2; 9:3,1; 13:2, where the cry is often for deliverance from enemies. Another word for "enemy," found chiefly in the poetical books, is tsar, or tsar, "distresser," "straitener" (Nu 10:9; Job 16:9; Ps 27:2,12, the Revised Version (British and American) "adversary," etc.); also tsarar (Es 3:10; Ps 8:2; 10:5 the King James Version, etc.). Other words are `ar, "one awake" (
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:5; Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:1-28; Pr 24:17,18; 25:21,22; Mt 5:43-48; Lu 6:27-36; Ro 12:14,20
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
