Job 10:14

14 If I sin, you 1watch me and do not 2acquit me of my iniquity.

Job 10:14 Meaning and Commentary

Job 10:14

If I sin, then thou markest me
Or "observest me" F20; that is, he took notice of his sins, strictly inquired into them and all the circumstances of them, watched the motions and progress of them, and carefully laid them up, in order to bring them out against him another day, and afflict or punish him for them; or he set a watch about him, "kept [him] in" F21, and enclosed him on every side with affliction, as if he was in a watch or prison, as Gersom; or, "wilt thou keep me" F23? that is, in such close confinement: Gussetius F24 renders it, "if I have offered a sacrifice for sin", as the word is sometimes used; signifying, that though he should, as no doubt he did, offer sacrifice for himself, as it is certain he did for his children, yet even that was not regarded by the Lord; he still marked and observed him and his sins, and would not forgive him, or absolve him from his sins, as follows; see ( Job 7:12 ) ;

and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity;
clear him of it, and discharge him from it; pronounce him innocent, or pardon him; but, on the contrary, hold him guilty, and deal with him as such in a rigorous way; or wilt not "cleanse" or purify me, as the Targum and others F25, but let me continue, or treat me as an impure person, not fit for communion or converse.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (yntrmv) "observasti me", Beza, Mercerus; "tum observas me", Schmidt.
F21 "Custodisti me", Drusius.
F23 "Custodies me", Vatablus.
F24 Ebr. Comment. p. 923.
F25 (ynqnt) "mundabis", Mercerus; "mundes", Pagninus, Montanus, Bolducius; "purges me", Junius & Tremellius.

Job 10:14 In-Context

12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.
14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.
16 And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Job 13:27; Job 33:11; Psalms 130:3
  • 2. Job 9:28
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.