Job 23:9 (KJV)

Passage

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Nearby Context

Job 23:7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Job 23:9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "left", "hand", "where", "doth", "behold", "hideth", "himself", and "right". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "left" and "hand", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Behold I go forward but he is..." into verse 10's "But he knoweth the way that I...", so "left" and "hand" belong inside that flow. In Job context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "left" and "hand" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.