Job 17 9

Job 17:9 kjv

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Job 17:9 nkjv

Yet the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.

Job 17:9 niv

Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.

Job 17:9 esv

Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

Job 17:9 nlt

The righteous keep moving forward,
and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.

Job 17 verses

Job 17 9 Meaning

Job 17:9 expresses a profound principle amidst Job’s intense suffering and the accusations of his friends: that the truly righteous person, who maintains integrity, will not only endure but will also be strengthened in their path. It asserts a divine paradox where purity of heart and conduct leads to spiritual resilience and increasing fortitude, even when faced with adversity and false accusations. It serves as Job's hopeful declaration that despite present despair, God's justice will prevail, and integrity will ultimately be vindicated and reinforced.

Job 17 9 Context

Job 17 is part of Job's response to Zophar's second discourse. Throughout the preceding chapters, Job has wrestled with his inexplicable suffering, maintaining his innocence while his friends insisted he must have sinned greatly to deserve such calamity. Job 17 reflects Job’s continued despair over his condition and the failure of his friends to offer any true comfort or understanding. He views himself as already doomed ("My days are past; my plans are broken..." v.11) and believes he is mocked by those around him. However, amidst this deep lament and accusation, verse 9 surfaces as a remarkable declaration of faith and a general principle that stands in contrast to his immediate predicament. It's as if Job, while experiencing personal agony, transcends his own suffering to utter a timeless truth about divine justice and the ultimate vindication and perseverance of the truly righteous, anticipating a day when the integrity of one like him will not only be acknowledged but strengthened.

Job 17 9 Word analysis

• Yet (אַךְ - 'akh): This emphatic particle signals a strong affirmation or a contrast. Here, it introduces a declarative statement of truth, standing in sharp contrast to the previous verses where Job laments his desolate situation and mocks his friends. It highlights a core conviction that persists despite Job’s deep anguish.
• the righteous (צַדִּיק - tsaddiq): Refers to one who is just, upright, innocent, or in right standing with God. It speaks to a person's character and conduct being consistent with divine standards. This is a central term in the Old Testament for those approved by God.
• will hold (יֹאחֵז - yo'khez): Derived from the verb 'achaz', meaning to seize, grasp, firmly hold, or retain. It conveys the idea of tenacity, steadfastness, and persistent adherence. The righteous will maintain their commitment.
• to his way (דַּרְכּוֹ - darko): "His way" signifies his path, his manner of life, conduct, or moral character. It implies adhering to a consistent course of integrity and righteous living, rather than deviating from it under pressure or adversity.
• and he who has clean hands (וִידֵי נָקִי - vîdê-nāqî): This is an idiomatic expression signifying innocence, blamelessness, or moral purity. "Clean hands" denote actions that are not defiled by sin or wrongdoing. It emphasizes integrity in conduct and motive.
• will grow stronger (יֹסֶף אֹמֶץ - yôsep̄ ’ōmeṣ): Literally "will add strength." 'Yosef' (from יָסַף - yasaph) means to add or increase. 'Ometz' refers to strength, vigor, or might. This phrase indicates an increase in spiritual, moral, or even physical resilience.
• and stronger (וְאֹמֶץ - ve'omeṣ): The repetition of 'ometz' joined by the conjunction 've' (and) emphasizes a continuous, progressive, and intensifying increase in strength. It means "stronger and stronger," suggesting an ongoing process of fortification and reinforcement for the righteous.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Yet the righteous will hold to his way": This phrase asserts the perseverance of the upright. Despite outward pressures or internal struggles, the genuine person of faith maintains their commitment to righteous living. This perseverance is not passive but an active, tenacious grasp of their principles.
• "and he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger": This emphasizes the practical outcome of integrity. Purity of conduct leads not to weakening or despair, but to a continuous fortification of one's inner being and moral resolve. It suggests that fidelity to truth deepens one's spiritual vitality, empowering them to face increasing challenges. The continuous growth ("stronger and stronger") signifies God's sustaining grace at work in the life of the upright.

Job 17 9 Bonus section

• This verse can be seen as an expression of the paradox of righteous suffering: instead of leading to ruin, steadfastness through trials can result in increased spiritual strength and resolve. It redefines what "strength" truly means – not an absence of hardship, but an ability to endure and thrive within it.
• Job's words here seem to foreshadow the New Testament understanding of sanctification through trials (Jam 1:2-4) and God's sustaining grace for His people (1 Pet 5:10). The growth implied ("stronger and stronger") speaks to a process of ongoing maturation and deepening faith.
• While spoken by Job, the statement holds a universal theological weight, transcending his specific context. It serves as a reminder that God upholds and empowers those who remain faithful to Him, even when the world misunderstands or accuses them. It offers hope that divine justice will prevail, and those who suffer innocently will ultimately be vindicated and strengthened.
• The phrase "clean hands" is a recurring motif in the Bible for moral purity, signifying an individual's upright character and blameless conduct before God (e.g., Psa 24:4). This emphasis on external purity reflecting internal integrity underscores the holistic nature of biblical righteousness.

Job 17 9 Commentary

Job 17:9, despite being uttered amidst Job's personal anguish and cynical views of human loyalty, rises above his immediate plight to articulate a foundational theological truth: the inherent durability and progressive fortification of the righteous. It serves as Job’s prophetic insight or steadfast belief, asserting that authentic piety – characterized by blameless living and adherence to God's path – ultimately strengthens the individual rather than weakening them, even in suffering. This counters the conventional wisdom of his friends who believe suffering indicates sin. Instead, Job posits that the truly righteous person, far from being consumed by trials, paradoxically grows in spiritual vigor. It reflects a deeper spiritual law where integrity, purity of heart, and unwavering commitment to God's way lead to increasing divine reinforcement, preparing the believer for even greater endurance and revelation. It is a powerful affirmation of the sustaining grace of God for those who maintain their integrity, validating their suffering as a means of deeper strength, not punishment.