Job 19: Job's cry for pity, and his words about a Redeemer
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Job answers and asks how long his friends will torment him and crush him with words. He says that God has subverted him and closed his net around him. He says his brothers, relatives and friends are far from him, his servant does not answer, his breath is offensive to his wife, and even young children despise him. He asks his friends to have pity on him. He wishes his words were written in a book and engraved in the rock forever, says he knows that his Redeemer lives and that he will see God, and tells his friends to be afraid of the sword.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. Job speaks the whole chapter: verse 1 says "Then Job answered". He speaks to "you" in verses 2 to 6, calls them "my friends" in verse 21, and turns to them again in verses 28 and 29. In verse 28 he quotes words he says they may say: "How we will persecute him!" He speaks of God in verses 6, 21, 22 and 26, and of "my Redeemer" in verse 25. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Job answered,
In plain English: Then Job answered,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2“How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
In plain English: How long will you torment me (the Hebrew says: my soul) and crush me with words?
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3You have reproached me ten times. You aren’t ashamed that you attack me.
In plain English: Ten times now you have reproached me. You are not ashamed that you attack me (or: ill-treat me).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
In plain English: If it is true that I have erred, my error stays with me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach,
In plain English: If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead my reproach against me,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.
In plain English: know now that God has subverted me (or: wronged me) and has closed his net around me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7“Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
In plain English: Look, I cry out of wrong (the Hebrew word is violence), but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, and has set darkness in my paths.
In plain English: He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and has set darkness on my paths.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
In plain English: He has stripped my glory (honor) from me, and taken the crown from my head.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. He has plucked my hope up like a tree.
In plain English: He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. He has plucked up my hope like a tree.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
In plain English: He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and encamp around my tent.
In plain English: His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me (the Hebrew says: pile up their way), and encamp around my tent.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13“He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
In plain English: He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
In plain English: My relatives have gone away (the Hebrew says: have ceased). My close friends have forgotten me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15Those who dwell in my house and my maids consider me a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
In plain English: Those who stay in my house, and my maids, consider me a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
In plain English: I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.
In plain English: My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother (see the note).
The Hebrew words: "Own mother" is the WEB's reading of beten, which the dictionary gives as "the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything". Word by word the line is "the sons of my womb".
How it is translated: Beten is in 72 verses of the Bible and 16 of Job. In Job the WEB says "womb" in 7 of the 16 and "belly" in 3.
What changes: The WEB reads "the children of my own mother". With "belly" or "body" the line can read "the sons of my body". The text does not say whose children are meant.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
In plain English: Even young children despise me. When I arise, they speak against me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
In plain English: All my close friends (the Hebrew says: the men of my council) abhor me. Those whom I loved have turned against me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
In plain English: My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21“Have pity on me. Have pity on me, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.
In plain English: Have pity on me. Have pity on me, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
In plain English: Why do you persecute me like God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23“Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
In plain English: Oh that (the Hebrew says: who will give) my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book (or: on a scroll)!
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
In plain English: That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
The Hebrew words: "Pen" is et, which the dictionary gives as "a stylus or marking stick". "Lead" is ophereth, which the dictionary gives as "lead (from its dusty color)".
How it is translated: Et is in 4 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "pen" in all 4: , , this verse and . Ophereth is in 9 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "lead" in all 9.
What changes: The verse names an iron pen and lead, and does not say how the lead is used. It also does not say who engraves the words.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
In plain English: But as for me, I know that my Redeemer (or: vindicator) lives. In the end (or: as the last one), he will stand upon the earth (or: upon the dust). See the note.
The Hebrew word: "Redeemer" is go'el, from the root ga'al, which the dictionary gives as "to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)". It is the "avenger of blood" in and the near "kinsman" in .
How it is translated: The root is in 84 verses of the Bible. The WEB says "redeem" or "Redeemer" in 60 of them, "avenger" in 12 and "kinsman" in 10. In Job it is in 2 verses: , where the WEB says "claim", and this one.
The Hebrew words: "In the end" is acharon, which the dictionary gives as "hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western". "Earth" is afar, which the dictionary gives as "dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud". "Stand" is qum, which the dictionary gives as "to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)".
How it is translated: Acharon is in 48 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "last" in 21 of them and "end" in 4. Afar is in 103 verses of the Bible and 26 of Job, and in Job the WEB says "dust" in 20 of the 26 and "earth" in 9. Qum is in 596 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "rise" in 77 of them, "arise" in 92 and "stand" in 36.
What changes: "In the end" can also read "as the last one" or "at the last". "Upon the earth" can read "upon the dust". "He will stand" can read "he will rise". The word cards give "my vindicator" for the Redeemer. The text does not say who the Redeemer is.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,
In plain English: After my skin is destroyed (the Hebrew of these words is hard), I will see God in my flesh (or: from my flesh, or: without my flesh).
The Hebrew words: The first words are hard. Word by word they read "and after my skin they have struck off this". "Destroyed" is naqaph, which the dictionary gives as "to strike with more or less violence (beat, fell, corrode); by implication (of attack) to knock together, i.e. surround or circulate". The small word before "my flesh" is min, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses". The WEB says "in my flesh".
How it is translated: Naqaph is in 3 verses of Job: , , where the WEB says "surrounded", and this one, where it says "destroyed".
What changes: With "in my flesh" Job sees God in his body. With "from my flesh" the sight is from or out of his flesh. With "without my flesh" he sees God apart from it. The first half can also read "after they strike off this skin of mine". The text does not rule between these readings.
Church tradition: Many churches read verses 25 to 27 as about the resurrection of the body. Others read them as about Job being cleared in this life. Job 19 says "I will see God" and does not use the word "resurrection".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27whom I, even I, will see on my side. My eyes will see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.
In plain English: whom I, even I, will see for myself (or: on my side), and my own eyes will see, and not as a stranger (or: and not a stranger's). My heart is consumed within me (the Hebrew says: my kidneys are spent in my bosom).
The Hebrew words: "On my side" is li, which word by word is "for me" or "for myself". "Stranger" is zar. The same root is in four verses of this chapter: ("estranged"), ("stranger"), ("offensive") and this one. "Heart" is kilyah, which the dictionary gives as "a kidney (as an essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self)". In Job it is in 2 verses, , where the WEB says "kidneys", and this one.
What changes: Word by word the second line is "my own eyes will see, and not a stranger". It can read that Job's own eyes will see and not a stranger's, or, as in the WEB, that he will see "not as a stranger". The text does not rule between the readings.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,
In plain English: If you say, "How we will persecute him!" because the root of the matter is found in me,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
29be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.”
In plain English: be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword (the Hebrew says: for rage is the iniquities of the sword), that you may know there is a judgment.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.