Job 19:16-26

16 I call my slave, but he doesn't answer, though I beg him.

17 My breath offends my wife. I stink to my own children.

18 Even young children despise me. If I stand up, they make fun of me.

19 All my closest friends are disgusted with me. Those I love have turned against me.

20 I am skin and bones, and I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.

21 "Have pity on me, my friends! Have pity on me because God's hand has struck me down.

22 Why do you pursue me as God does? Why are you never satisfied with my flesh?

23 "I wish now my words were written. I wish they were inscribed on a scroll.

24 I wish they were forever engraved on a rock with an iron stylus and lead.

25 But I know that my defender lives, and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.

26 Even after my skin has been stripped off my body, I will see God in my own flesh.

Job 19:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 19

This chapter contains Job's reply to Bildad's second speech, in which he complains of the ill usage of his friends, of their continuing to vex him, and to beat, and bruise, and break him in pieces with their hard words, and to reproach him, and carry it strange to him, Job 19:1-3; which he thought was very cruel, since, if he was mistaken, the mistake lay with himself, Job 19:4; and if they were determined to go on at this rate, he would have them observe, that his afflictions were of God, and therefore should take care to what they imputed them, since he could not get the reasons of them, or his cause to be heard, though he vehemently and importunately sought it, Job 19:5-7; and then gives an enumeration of the several particulars of his distress, all which he ascribes to God, Job 19:8-12; and he enlarges upon that part of his unhappy case, respecting the alienation of his nearest relations, most intimate acquaintance and friends, from him, and their contempt of him, and the like treatment he met with from his servants, and even young children, Job 19:13-19; all which, with other troubles, had such an effect upon him as to reduce him to a mere skeleton, and which he mentions to move the pity of these his friends, now conversing with him, Job 19:20-22; and yet after all, and in the midst of it, and which was his great support under his trials, he expresses his strong faith in his living Redeemer, who should appear on the earth in the latter day, and be his Saviour, and in the resurrection of the dead through him, which he believed he should share in, and in all the happiness consequent on it; and he wishes this confession of his faith might be written and engraven, and be preserved on a rock for ever for the good of posterity, Job 19:23-27; and closes the chapter with an expostulation with his friends, dissuading them from persecuting him any longer, since there was no reason for it in himself, and it might be attended with bad consequences to them, Job 19:28,29.