Job 10:14

14 That if I so much as missed a step, you'd notice and pounce, wouldn't let me get by with a thing.

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 gave me life itself, and incredible love. You watched and guarded every breath I took.
13 "But you never told me about this part. I should have known that there was more to it -
14 That if I so much as missed a step, you'd notice and pounce, wouldn't let me get by with a thing.
15 If I'm truly guilty, I'm doomed. But if I'm innocent, it's no better - I'm still doomed. My belly is full of bitterness. I'm up to my ears in a swamp of affliction.
16 I try to make the best of it, try to brave it out, but you're too much for me, relentless, like a lion on the prowl.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.