Job 16 17

Job 16:17 kjv

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

Job 16:17 nkjv

Although no violence is in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

Job 16:17 niv

yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.

Job 16:17 esv

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

Job 16:17 nlt

Yet I have done no wrong,
and my prayer is pure.

Job 16 verses

Job 16 17 Meaning

Job 16:17 presents Job's fervent declaration of innocence in the face of his immense suffering and his friends' accusations. He asserts that his physical torment and spiritual distress are "not for any injustice in my hands," meaning he has not committed acts of violence, oppression, or unrighteous deeds that would merit such severe divine retribution. Furthermore, he declares, "my prayer is pure," signifying that his petitions and cries to God are from a genuine, unblemished heart, untainted by hidden sin or hypocrisy, thus underscoring his integrity before both God and man.

Job 16 17 Context

Job 16 is part of Job’s third speech in response to his friends' continued accusations. Throughout chapters 12-14, Job asserts his wisdom, mourns his plight, and expresses a longing for death and a desire to argue his case before God. By chapter 16, Job’s suffering has intensified, and his friends' lack of comfort and unwavering belief in the retribution principle (that suffering always means sin) have pushed him to desperation. He views God as his persecutor, tearing him down and allowing others to mock him. Yet, despite feeling abandoned and unjustly afflicted by God Himself, Job vehemently maintains his personal integrity and innocence. Verse 17 directly contradicts the foundational premise of his friends, stating that his current distress is not a consequence of any discernible sin in his actions or spirit. Historically, the prevailing wisdom in the ancient Near East often linked prosperity to divine favor and suffering to divine punishment for sin. Job's assertion is a direct challenge to this rigid interpretation, positioning himself as a righteous man who suffers inexplicably, thereby raising profound theological questions about God's justice.

Job 16 17 Word analysis

• Not: אֶל־ ('el-). Here, a preposition implying "to" or "for the sake of," but in this context with the negation implies "not for the sake of" or "not because of." It serves to emphatically deny the connection between his suffering and his actions.
• injustice: חָמָס (ḥāmās). This significant Hebrew term denotes violence, wrong, injustice, or active harm. It is a broad term that includes physical violence, oppression, robbery, and even the verbal "wrong" or "cruelty." By denying ḥāmās in his hands, Job is specifically refuting the idea that he has been guilty of tangible, wicked deeds of oppression or active wrongdoing against others. This directly counters the implied accusations from his friends, particularly Eliphaz (Job 15:20-30), that Job's downfall must be due to his violence.
• in my hands: בְּכַפַּי (bᵉkhappay). The preposition "בְּ" (be) means "in" or "with," and "כַּף" (kaph) refers to the palm of the hand or the entire hand. The plural form (dual ending "ַי") and the possessive "my" emphasizes Job's personal involvement or the absence thereof. "In my hands" metaphorically refers to actions, deeds, or the things one performs. To have ḥāmās "in one's hands" means to have actively engaged in acts of violence or injustice. Job declares his hands are free from such corrupt actions.
• Also: וּ (u). This is a simple conjunction, "and," indicating a continuation or addition of a closely related thought.
• my prayer: תְּפִלָּתִי (tᵉphillātī). This Hebrew word specifically means "prayer" or "intercession." It refers to a heartfelt appeal to God. The possessive "my" emphasizes the personal nature and directness of his communication with the divine.
• is pure: זַכָּה (zakkah). This adjective means "pure," "clean," "clear," "spotless," or "innocent." It carries a connotation of ethical and moral purity, not just ceremonial cleanliness. Applied to "prayer," it implies that his communication with God is sincere, free from ulterior motives, hypocrisy, hidden sin, or the spiritual corruption that would make prayer unacceptable to God. Job is affirming the righteousness of his internal spiritual life as well as his external actions.

Words-Group Analysis:

• Not for any injustice in my hands: This phrase emphasizes the external, active dimension of Job's integrity. He denies that his suffering stems from concrete, observable acts of wrong, violence, or oppression. This is a powerful rebuttal to the "cause-and-effect" theology of his friends, who believe his deeds must have brought about his calamities.
• Also my prayer is pure: This phrase extends Job's assertion of innocence to his internal and spiritual life. His prayer is the expression of his heart before God. By stating it is "pure," Job argues that his devotion, his worship, and his plea for divine intervention are sincere and uncontaminated by guilt, spiritual rebellion, or idolatry. This further undermines the friends' claims that his suffering is due to secret sin or a corrupt relationship with God.

Job 16 17 Bonus section

Job's claim here anticipates the New Testament concept of being justified by faith, not merely by works. While Job defends his outward conduct, his primary argument leans on the integrity of his heart and his pure relationship with God, even when God seems to be against him. This radical integrity foreshadows the suffering of Christ, who truly had "no violence in His hands" and whose "prayer was pure" in every sense, even unto death on the cross (Isa 53:9, 1 Pet 2:22-23). The theological weight of Job's statement "my prayer is pure" is profound; it implies an authentic, unhindered relationship with God, even in the crucible of questioning divine justice, setting it apart from ritualistic or self-serving prayers that are detestable to God. This verse becomes a template for understanding that true faith and righteousness can coexist with extreme trials, pushing against a simplistic cause-and-effect theology of suffering.

Job 16 17 Commentary

Job 16:17 is a cornerstone of Job's unwavering defense. It stands as a defiant testament to his innocence amidst intense suffering and the unrelenting, flawed theological framework presented by his friends. He is not just verbally denying wrongdoing, but solemnly affirming his character both in action ("injustice in my hands") and in spirit ("my prayer is pure"). The "hands" signify his conduct and external deeds, specifically asserting they are free of violence or oppression. This directly addresses the conventional wisdom that external calamities are divine judgment for external sins. Simultaneously, "my prayer is pure" addresses his internal state and spiritual walk, indicating that his communion with God is sincere, without hypocrisy or hidden iniquity that might defile his petitions. This dual declaration highlights Job's holistic righteousness: his visible life is just, and his private spiritual life is genuine. This verse captures the essence of Job’s struggle: an innocent man's lament against unmerited suffering, challenging the traditional view that severe affliction always signals prior grave transgression. His plea effectively posits that a truly pure heart and righteous hands do not always equate to a life free from hardship, thus prompting a deeper inquiry into the mysteries of God's ways.