Job 19
Job 19 is part of “Second Cycle of Dialogue” (15–21) in the outline of Job.
Job 19 summary
This chapter is Job's answer to Bildad's discourse in the foregoing chapter. Though his spirit was grieved and much heated, and Bildad was very peevish, yet he gave him leave to say all he designed to say, and did not break in upon him in the midst of his argument; but, when he had done, he gave him a fair answer, in which, I. He complains of unkind usage. And very unkindly he takes it. 1.
Read the full introduction
This chapter is Job's answer to Bildad's discourse in the foregoing chapter. Though his spirit was grieved and much heated, and Bildad was very peevish, yet he gave him leave to say all he designed to say, and did not break in upon him in the midst of his argument; but, when he had done, he gave him a fair answer, in which, I. He complains of unkind usage. And very unkindly he takes it. 1. That his comforters added to his affliction (Job 19:2-7). 2. That his God was the author of his affliction (Job 19:8-12). 3. That his relations and friends were strange to him, and shy of him, in his affliction (Job 19:20-22). II. He comforts himself with the believing hopes of happiness in the other world, though he had so little comfort in this, making a very solemn confession of his faith, with a desire that it might be recorded as an evidence of his sincerity (Job 19:23-27). III. He concludes with a caution to his friends not to persist in their hard censures of him (Job 19:28, Job 19:29) If the remonstrance Job here makes of his grievances may serve sometimes to justify our complaints, yet his cheerful views of the future state, at the same time, may shame us Christians, and may serve to silence our complaints, or at least to balance them.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Job 19
Job 19 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Job's Reply: How Long Will You Torment Me?
1Then Job answered and said, 2How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words? 3These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me. 4And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself. 5If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach; 6Know now that God hath subverted me [in my cause], And hath compassed me with his net. 7Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice. 8He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths. 9He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head. 10He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; And my hope hath he plucked up like a tree. 11He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as [one of] his adversaries. 12His troops come on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent. 13He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me. 14My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 16I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, [Though] I entreat him with my mouth. 17My breath is strange to my wife, And my supplication to the children of mine own mother. 18Even young children despise me; If I arise, they speak against me. 19All my familiar friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me. 20My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; For the hand of God hath touched me. 22Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
23Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! 24That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever! 25But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: 26And after my skin, [even] this [body], is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; 27Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me. 28If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me; 29Be ye afraid of the sword: For wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment.