The Verses

“Then Job responded,
‘How long will you torment me
And crush me with words?
These ten times you have insulted me;
You are not ashamed to wrong me.
Even if I have truly done wrong,
My error stays with me.
If indeed you exalt yourselves against me
And prove my disgrace to me,
Know then that God has wronged me,
And has surrounded me with His net.

Behold, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I get no answer;
I shout for help, but there is no justice.
He has blocked my way so that I cannot pass,
And He has put darkness on my paths.
He has stripped my honor from me
And removed the crown from my head.
He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone;
And He has uprooted my hope like a tree.
He has also kindled His anger against me
And considered me as His enemy.
His troops come together
And build up their way against me,
And camp around my tent.

He has removed my brothers far from me,
And my acquaintances have completely turned away from me.
My relatives have failed,
And my close friends have forgotten me.
Those who live in my house and my servant women consider me a stranger.
I am a foreigner in their sight.
I call to my servant, but he does not answer,
I have to implore his favor with my mouth.
My breath is offensive to my wife,
And I am loathsome to my own brothers.
Even young children despise me;
I stand up and they speak against me.
All my associates loathe me,
And those I love have turned against me.
My bones cling to my skin and my flesh,
And I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.

Pity me, pity me, you, my friends,
Because the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you persecute me as God does,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?

Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were recorded in a book!
That with an iron stylus and lead
They were engraved in the rock forever!
Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I will see God,
Whom I myself shall see,
And whom my eyes will look at, and not another.
My heart faints within me!

If you say, “How shall we persecute him?”
And “What pretext for a case against him can we find?”
Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know there is judgment.’”

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Context and Meaning

This chapter contains one of Job’s most famous statements of faith: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (v. 25). Amid his suffering, Job expresses deep despair yet also reveals a profound hope in God’s justice and redemption.

Key Themes:

1. Job’s Isolation: Job laments that he has been abandoned by family, friends, and servants, highlighting the depth of his suffering (v. 13-20).
2. A Cry for Compassion: Job pleads with his friends to stop adding to his misery, accusing them of persecuting him as if they were acting on God’s behalf (v. 21-22).
3. A Bold Declaration of Faith: Job expresses confidence that a Redeemer will ultimately stand on his behalf and that he will see God even after death (v. 25-27).
4. A Warning of Judgment: Job warns his friends that if they continue to accuse him falsely, they themselves will face divine judgment (v. 28-29).

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Reflection and Impact

Job 19 is one of the most powerful chapters in the book, showing the tension between deep suffering and unwavering faith:

• Hope in the Midst of Despair: Despite his pain, Job proclaims his belief in a living Redeemer who will bring justice.
• A Foreshadowing of Christ: Job’s words point forward to Jesus, who is our ultimate Redeemer and the one who will stand on the earth in the last days (1 Timothy 2:5).
• God Sees and Vindicates: Job clings to the belief that his suffering will not be meaningless, and that God will ultimately make things right.

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Application

• Trust in Your Redeemer: No matter how difficult life gets, know that Jesus lives and will bring justice and restoration.
• Cling to Hope in Trials: Like Job, anchor your faith in God’s eternal justice, even when circumstances seem hopeless.
• Show Compassion to the Hurting: Avoid judging those who suffer; instead, offer grace and encouragement.

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Closing Thought

Job’s declaration, “I know that my Redeemer lives,” stands as a timeless reminder that God’s justice will prevail. Even in suffering, we can place our hope in the living God, who redeems and restores. Job’s faith points us to Christ, the ultimate Redeemer who will one day make all things new.