Job 16:19

19 "Even now, behold, 1my witness is in heaven, And my advocate 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, do not cover my blood, And let there be no resting place for my cry.
19 "Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.
20 "My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.
21 "O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

Cross References 2

  • 1. Genesis 31:50; Job 19:25-27; Romans 1:9; Philippians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:5
  • 2. Job 31:2

Footnotes 1

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