Job 16:19 kjv
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
Job 16:19 nkjv
Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high.
Job 16:19 niv
Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
Job 16:19 esv
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.
Job 16:19 nlt
Even now my witness is in heaven.
My advocate is there on high.
Job 16 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Witness/Advocate/Intercessor | ||
| Job 9:33 | There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. | Earlier lament, now surpassed by hope. |
| Ps 34:22 | The LORD redeems the life of His servants; | God as redeemer and deliverer. |
| Isa 59:16 | He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede. | God provides intercession. |
| Zech 3:1-2 | He showed me Joshua... and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him... The LORD rebuke you, Satan! | Divine resistance against accusers. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | Christ as the ultimate mediator. |
| Heb 7:25 | He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede... | Christ's perpetual intercession. |
| Rom 8:34 | Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. | Christ's intercession on our behalf. |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | My dear children... if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. | Jesus as our divine advocate. |
| Appeal to God's Higher Judgment/Vindication | ||
| Gen 18:25 | Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? | God's inherent justice. |
| Ps 7:8 | Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity. | Plea for divine vindication. |
| Ps 26:1 | Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life. | Prayer for vindication by God. |
| Ps 35:23-24 | Stir up yourself, and awake to my judgment... Judge me, O LORD my God... | Call for God's righteous judgment and defense. |
| Ps 73:25 | Whom have I in heaven but you? | God as the sole ultimate hope. |
| Ps 119:89 | Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. | God's unchanging truth and faithfulness. |
| 1 Thess 4:6 | ...The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins. | God as avenger against injustice. |
| Job 19:25-27 | I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth; and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. | Job's ultimate hope for vindication. |
| Rom 8:33 | Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. | God alone has the power to justify. |
| God's Omniscience/Knowledge/Presence | ||
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. | God's all-seeing knowledge. |
| Jer 23:23-24 | "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?... Do not I fill heaven and earth?" | God's omnipresence and knowledge. |
| Ps 139:1-4 | O LORD, you have searched me and known me... You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. | God's comprehensive knowledge of us. |
| Heb 4:13 | Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God sees all without exception. |
| Trusting God Despite Suffering/Injustice | ||
| Job 13:15 | Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; | Job's defiant trust in God. |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. | God's ultimate deliverance from trials. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. | God as unfailing help in distress. |
| Ps 62:7 | My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. | Complete reliance on God for deliverance. |
| Ps 142:1-2 | I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him. | Openness to God in suffering. |
| Hab 3:17-19 | Though the fig tree does not blossom... yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. | Joy and faith in God amidst all hardship. |
Job 16 verses
Job 16 19 Meaning
Job declares his absolute confidence that God in heaven is his witness and advocate. Despite the crushing accusations of his friends and his intense physical and emotional suffering, he appeals to a divine Helper who possesses full knowledge of his integrity and will testify on his behalf, asserting his innocence before the ultimate, true Judge. This profound statement elevates his appeal beyond human misunderstanding to a divine tribunal.
Job 16 19 Context
Job 16:19 is found within Job's intense lament, part of his third discourse with his friends, spanning chapters 15-21. At this stage, Job feels completely besieged by his afflictions and the unyielding, dogmatic accusations from Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. They relentlessly insist that his suffering is direct proof of his hidden sin, leaving Job without an earthly ally. In chapter 16, Job pours out his heart, describing himself as a target for both human malice and seemingly divine assault, declaring his "miserable comforters" offer no solace. Amidst this profound despair and a sense of cosmic injustice (Job 16:3-17), a powerful declaration of faith emerges in verse 19. Job expresses his conviction that, despite his earthly abandonment, there exists a heavenly witness and advocate who knows his true integrity and will ultimately testify on his behalf. This appeal to a divine figure above all human judgment marks a pivotal shift in Job's theological understanding and hope.
Job 16 19 Word analysis
- Even now: Heb. גַּם־עַתָּה (gam-'attah). This emphatic phrase signifies an immediate and persistent reality, despite his current suffering and his perceived abandonment by both God and humanity. It underscores the profound immediacy of his faith and conviction surfacing amidst despair.
- behold: Heb. הִנֵּה (hinneh). An exclamation that draws attention to a revelation or an emphatic statement. It conveys a sense of certainty and conviction, almost as if Job sees this divine witness directly before his spiritual eyes.
- my witness: Heb. עֵדִי ('edi). "Ed" (עֵד) means a witness or one who gives testimony, typically in a legal context. The suffix "-i" denotes "my." Job believes he has an independent third party who can attest to his innocence and the facts of his life. This witness is not human, but divine, truly knowing his heart beyond superficial appearances.
- is in heaven: Heb. בַּשָּׁמַיִם (bashaamayim). Literally "in the heavens," indicating a transcendent, divine realm. Heaven is the dwelling place of God, signifying His authority, omniscience, and omnipresence, positioning this witness beyond earthly limitation or corruption. It implies that true knowledge and justice reside not on earth but in the divine sphere.
- and He who testifies for me: Heb. וְשָׂהֲדִי (wəsaahadi). From the verb שָׂהַד (sahad), to give evidence or vouch for, reinforcing the concept of a legal defender or advocate. This is parallel to "my witness," emphasizing an active role of speaking on Job's behalf. It solidifies the idea of a divine one who will publicly affirm his truth.
- is on high: Heb. בַּמְּרוֹמִים (bamma'roomim). "Marom" (מָרוֹם) denotes height, an elevated or exalted position, emphasizing the supreme power, transcendence, and absolute sovereignty of this divine figure. Parallel to "in heaven," it underscores the unassailable position and authority of Job's advocate, rising above all earthly accusations and despair.
- Words-group: My witness is in heaven, and He who testifies for me is on high: This parallelism not only stresses Job's conviction but also poetically emphasizes the transcendence and unimpeachable authority of his divine advocate. Job appeals to an objective, divine perspective that truly knows his inner heart and will one day vindicate him, countering the human-centric and erroneous judgments of his friends. This marks a profound move beyond lament to a declaration of future hope rooted in God's perfect knowledge.
Job 16 19 Bonus section
This verse provides critical insight into Job's theological journey, showcasing a developing faith that moves beyond strict Old Covenant principles toward a more intimate and nuanced understanding of God's character. Job grapples deeply with the mystery of suffering and divine justice, challenging simplistic dogma. The identity of "my witness" has been a subject of extensive discussion; while some historical interpretations see this as a separate celestial being, the dominant and most theologically robust understanding identifies this witness and advocate with God Himself, yet distinguished in function from the "God" whom Job perceives as currently afflicting him. This conceptual separation allows Job to maintain his faith in God's character even while wrestling with his incomprehensible suffering. This dynamic view of God as both perceived afflicter and future vindicator marks a pivotal theological advancement for Job and for biblical revelation. It demonstrates that Job's trust in God extends beyond understanding, embracing faith in God's ultimate justice and personal care for the afflicted.
Job 16 19 Commentary
Job 16:19 represents a profound surge of faith amidst Job's relentless suffering and his friends' unjust accusations. Despite feeling battered by divine hand and human word, Job, through spiritual insight, apprehends a higher reality: a divine witness who truly knows his blamelessness. This is not merely an intellectual understanding, but a visceral conviction that God Himself, in His supreme transcendence, serves as his advocate against the flawed earthly judgments. It courageously defies the conventional retribution theology prevalent at the time, which linked suffering directly to sin. Job transcends this simplistic view, implicitly appealing to a more complex understanding of God's ways, wherein innocence may suffer, but will ultimately be vindicated by the Almighty. This bold assertion of a divine champion for the suffering righteous foreshadows the role of Christ as the ultimate mediator and intercessor for humanity. It embodies a trust in God's hidden wisdom and eventual justice, even when His actions appear inscrutable in the present.