The Meaning of Job 23:11 Explained

Job 23:11

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

YLT: On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

Darby: My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

ASV: My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My foot  hath held  his steps,  his way  have I kept,  and not declined. 

What does Job 23:11 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 23:11 mean?

To His steps has held fast My foot His way I have kept and not turned aside
בַּ֭אֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָ֣ה רַגְלִ֑י דַּרְכּ֖וֹ שָׁמַ֣רְתִּי וְלֹא־ אָֽט

בַּ֭אֲשֻׁרוֹ  To  His  steps 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָשֻׁר 
Sense: step, going.
אָחֲזָ֣ה  has  held  fast 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָחוּז 
Sense: grasp, take hold, seize, take possession.
רַגְלִ֑י  My  foot 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
דַּרְכּ֖וֹ  His  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
שָׁמַ֣רְתִּי  I  have  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָֽט  turned  aside 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, first person common singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.