Skip to content
Logo Devotion Header

Job 19 Job 19

1 Job
Then Job replied:

2 “How long will you torment me
and crush me with words?

3 Ten times now you have reproached me;
shamelessly you attack me.

4 If it is true that I have gone astray,
my error remains my concern alone.

5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me
and use my humiliation against me,

6 then know that God has wronged me
and drawn his net around me.

7 “Though I cry, ‘I’ve been wronged!’ I get no response;
though I call for help, there is no justice.

8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.

9 He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.

10 He tears me down on every side till I am gone;
he uproots my hope like a tree.

11 His anger burns against me;
he counts me among his enemies.

12 His troops advance in force;
they build a siege ramp against me
and encamp around my tent.

13 “He has alienated my brothers from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.

14 My kinsmen have gone away;
my friends have forgotten me.

15 My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger;
they look upon me as an alien.

16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though I beg him with my own mouth.

17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
I am loathsome to my own brothers.

18 Even the little boys scorn me;
when I appear, they ridicule me.

19 All my intimate friends detest me;
those I love have turned against me.

20 I am nothing but skin and bones;
I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth.

21 “Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the hand of God has struck me.

22 Why do you pursue me as God does?
Will you never get enough of my flesh?

23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,

24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!

25 I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;

27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound him,
since the root of the trouble lies in him,’

29 you should fear the sword yourselves;
for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,
and then you will know that there is judgment.”

Previous Chapter Job 18 Next Chapter Job 20

Analysis of Job Chapter 19

The Book of Job is one of the most profound and complex texts within the Bible, dealing with themes of suffering, faith, justice, and the nature of God’s relationship with humanity. Chapter 19 is a pivotal chapter within this narrative and contains several key elements that warrant deep reflection and interpretation. Job 19 is one of the most poignant expressions of Job’s anguish and hope, highlighting his isolation, his plea for justice, and his faith in a redeeming God.

Job 19:1-6 – Job’s Initial Response

In the opening verses, Job responds to his friends’ accusations with frustration and sorrow:

Then Job replied:

“How long will you torment me and crush me with words?

Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me.

If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone.

If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me,

then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me.

Job begins by addressing the relentless nature of his friends’ accusations. Their words are like “torment” and “crushing.” The repetition of the number ten emphasizes the completeness or fullness of their accusations, suggesting they have entirely misunderstood his plight.

Job asserts that even if he has erred, that error is his responsibility, not theirs to judge. This part of the text highlights Job’s sense of personal accountability and disapproval of his friends’ unwarranted judgment. Furthermore, he accuses them of taking advantage of his suffering to elevate their own moral standing, a critique of their self-righteousness.

Finally, Job shifts his complaint towards God, whom he feels has wronged him. Using the metaphor of a “net,” Job expresses the feeling of being ensnared and trapped by inexplicable divine actions. This marks a significant point where Job articulates his struggle to understand God’s justice, laying the groundwork for his yearning for a mediator.

Job 19:7-12 – The Plight of the Sufferer

The subsequent verses delve deeper into Job’s sense of abandonment and the overwhelming nature of his suffering:

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness.

He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree.

His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies.

His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent.”

Job describes his actions of crying for help and justice, only to be met with silence and absence of justice. This deepens our understanding of his internal turmoil and the feeling of being unjustly treated by both his friends and God. The vivid imagery suggests a divine blockade, where God himself has obstructed Job’s path, shrouded in darkness, making any attempt at understanding or escaping his suffering futile.

Job feels his honor and dignity have been stripped away, and he no longer possesses the ‘crown’ of his previous life, denoting his loss of status and identity. The metaphor of being “torn down” and “uprooted” like a tree reflects complete destruction and disorientation, suggesting that his foundation and future hopes have been eradicated. Job’s perception of God’s anger places him in the category of an enemy rather than a devoted servant.

The military imagery of advancing troops and siege ramps portrays an overwhelming and systematic destruction of his life by what he perceives as divine hostility. This serves to emphasize Job’s sense of isolation and persecution.

Job 19:13-20 – Personal Alienation and Isolation

Having conveyed his cosmic alienation, Job turns to discuss the personal level of his suffering:

“He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.

My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me.

My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger.

I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth.

My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family.

Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me.

All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.

I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.”

This passage highlights Job’s complete social estrangement. He lists every social relationship – family, friends, servants, and guests – illustrating the totality of his alienation. Even those whom he serves, his female servants, and his guests treat him as a foreigner, demonstrating a societal rejection that mirrors his spiritual rejection.

The phrase “My breath is offensive to my wife” underscores the intimate alienation he faces in his closest relationships. Job’s physical afflictions contribute to his loathing even among those who should naturally offer compassion and support. The reference to “little boys” scorning him emphasizes his utter loss of dignity and respect; even the youngest and most insignificant in society mock him.

The culmination of this section with “I am nothing but skin and bones” vividly depicts Job’s physical affliction. His survival is metaphorically “by the skin of his teeth,” suggesting he is holding on to life by the thinnest margin. Physical suffering is intertwined with his emotional and social suffering, making Job’s plight a comprehensive ordeal of body, mind, and spirit.

Job 19:21-22 – A Plea for Mercy

Amidst the depth of his despair, Job appeals directly for compassion from his friends:

“Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?”

Here, Job’s plea for mercy is poignant and charged with a raw understanding of his condition. He recognizes that his suffering comes by divine decree, portraying it as “the hand of God.” He implores his friends not to emulate what he perceives as God’s pursuit and anguish. This plea reveals Job’s desperate need for empathy and respite from their incessant accusations and judgments. The metaphor of them not having “enough of his flesh” grimly echoes the idea that they are metaphorically feasting on his suffering, furthering his sense of betrayal and abandonment.

Job 19:23-24 – The Desire for Vindication

In the middle of his suffering, Job expresses a deep desire for a lasting record of his plight:

“Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,

that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever!”

Job longs for his words to be immortalized through writing, using metaphors of permanence – inscription on lead or rock. This desire for a permanent record reflects his wish for vindication, not just before his friends and contemporaries but for future generations. Job yearns for truth and justice to prevail, that his suffering is known and understood, and for his integrity to be eternalized.

Job 19:25-27 – Job’s Declaration of Faith

In perhaps the most famous verses of the book, Job expresses an extraordinary declaration of faith:

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!”

Here, Job shifts from his intense focus on immediate suffering to an eternal perspective. The term “redeemer” (Hebrew: go’el) carries significant connotations of one who avenges or vindicates. This reflects Job’s belief in a divine champion who will ultimately stand up for him. The conviction that his Redeemer lives is profound given his earlier complaints about feeling abandoned by God.

Job’s hope is that even after his physical body has been destroyed, he will see God in his flesh. This expression transcends the immediate situation and looks forward to a reality in which he will stand vindicated before God. This verse has been interpreted by some as a foreshadowing of the resurrection and the belief in an afterlife, where ultimate justice and reconciliation occur.

His personal affirmation “I myself will see him” underscores the intimate and personal nature of this hoped-for encounter with God. This strong declaration is a powerful statement of faith amid devastating circumstances. Job’s heart, amidst all the suffering, yearns to see God, displaying a deep-rooted belief in divine justice and redemption.

Job 19:28-29 – Final Warnings to Friends

In the closing verses of the chapter, Job issues a final warning to his friends:

“If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,’

you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.”

Job warns his friends against continuing their accusations. By saying “the root of the trouble lies in him,” they are committing the root error of self-righteous judgment, and Job cautions them that they too could face divine retribution. The symbolism of the sword emphasizes severe judgment and divine wrath. Job turns his attention to reflect on reciprocal justice, implying that divine justice will avenge the wrong accusations made by his friends.

This underscoring of the threat of divine judgment serves to bring the chapter full circle, where Job initially responded to the unjust treatment he received from his friends, and he concludes with a solemn reminder of the ultimate judgment of God.

In summary, Job Chapter 19 is a powerful testament to the depth of Job’s suffering, his struggle for justice and understanding, and his unwavering faith in a Redeemer. The chapter encapsulates the core themes of the Book of Job: the enigma of suffering, the search for divine justice, the anguish of divine silence, and the enduring hope for vindication and redemption. Through his poignant words, Job emerges as a figure of profound faith and resilience amid incomprehensible adversity, offering timeless insights into the human condition and our relationship with the divine.