Job 27:1-11

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

1 And Job continued his discourse:
2 “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,
3 as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies.
5 I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
6 I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked, my adversary like the unjust!
8 For what hope have the godless when they are cut off, when God takes away their life?
9 Does God listen to their cry when distress comes upon them?
10 Will they find delight in the Almighty? Will they call on God at all times?
11 “I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.

Job 27:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 27

Though Job's friends were become silent, and dropped the controversy with him, he still continued his discourse in this and the four following chapters; in which he asserts his integrity; illustrates and confirms his former sentiments; gives further proof of his knowledge of things, natural and divine; takes notice of his former state of prosperity, and of his present distresses and afflictions, which came upon him, notwithstanding his piety, humanity, and beneficence, and his freedom from the grosser acts of sin, both with respect to God and men, all which he enlarges upon. In this chapter he gives his word and oath for it, that he would never belie himself, and own that he was an hypocrite, when he was not, but would continue to assert his integrity, and the righteousness of his cause, as long as he lived, Job 27:1-6; for to be an hypocrite, and to attempt to conceal his hypocrisy, would be of no advantage to him, either in life, or in death, Job 27:7-10; and was this his character and case, upon their principles, he could expect no other than to be a miserable man, as wicked men are, who have their blessings turned into curses, or taken away from them, and they removed out of the world in the most awful and terrible manner, and under manifest tokens of the wrath and displeasure of God, Job 27:11-23.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Job 29:1
  • 2. S Job 6:29; S Job 9:24; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 49:4,14; Job 34:5
  • 3. Job 23:16
  • 4. S 1 Samuel 1:10; S Job 7:19; S Job 10:1; Job 9:18
  • 5. S Genesis 2:7; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Job 34:14; S Psalms 144:4
  • 6. S Job 6:28; S Job 12:16; S Job 16:17
  • 7. S Job 2:9; S Job 10:7; S Job 32:2; Job 13:15
  • 8. Job 29:14; Psalms 119:121; Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 59:17; Isaiah 61:10
  • 9. S Acts 23:1; Romans 2:15
  • 10. S Job 2:3; S Job 10:7; S Job 23:10; S Job 34:17
  • 11. S Job 8:22
  • 12. Job 31:35
  • 13. S Job 8:13
  • 14. S Numbers 16:22; S Job 8:22; S Job 11:20; Luke 12:20
  • 15. S Deuteronomy 1:45; S 1 Samuel 8:18; S Job 15:31; Job 35:12; Proverbs 1:28; Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 14:12; Micah 3:4
  • 16. S Job 22:26
  • 17. Job 36:23
  • 18. ver 13
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.