Job Chapter 16 verse 21 Holy Bible
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
read chapter 16 in ASV
So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.
read chapter 16 in BBE
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!
read chapter 16 in DARBY
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
read chapter 16 in KJV
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!
read chapter 16 in WBT
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!
read chapter 16 in WEB
And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.
read chapter 16 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
