Job 16:19

19 Even now, behold, my 1witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is 2on high.

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 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 "O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.
20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 89:37; Romans 1:9
  • 2. [Psalms 148:1]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.