Job 16:19

19 There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name -

Job 16:19 Meaning and Commentary

Job 16:19

Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven
That is, God, who dwells in the heavens, where his throne is, and which is the habitation of his holiness, and from whence he beholds all the sons of men, and their actions, is the all seeing and all knowing Being; and therefore Job appeals to him as his witness, if he was guilty of the things laid to his charge, to bear witness against him, but if not to be a witness for him, which he believed he would, and desired he might:

for my record [is] on high;
or "my testimony"; that can testify for me; who is an "eyewitness" F11, as some render it, before whom all things are naked and open; who has seen all my actions, even the very inmost recesses of my mind, all the thoughts of my heart, and all the principles of my actions, and him I desire to bear record of me; such appeals are lawful in some cases, which ought not to be common and trivial ones, but of moment and importance, and which cannot well be determined in any other way; such as was the charge of hypocrisy against Job, and suspicions of his having been guilty of some notorious crime, though it could not be pointed at and proved; see ( 1 Samuel 12:3 1 Samuel 12:4 ) ( 2 Corinthians 1:13 ) ( Philippians 1:8 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (ydhv) "oculatus meus testis", Schultens.

Job 16:19 In-Context

17 Even though I've never hurt a soul and my prayers are sincere! The One Who Represents Mortals Before God
18 "O Earth, don't cover up the wrong done to me! Don't muffle my cry!
19 There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name -
20 My Champion, my Friend, while I'm weeping my eyes out before God.
21 I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
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.