Job 19 15

Job 19:15 kjv

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

Job 19:15 nkjv

Those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants, Count me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.

Job 19:15 niv

My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger.

Job 19:15 esv

The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.

Job 19:15 nlt

My servants and maids consider me a stranger.
I am like a foreigner to them.

Job 19 verses

Job 19 15 Meaning

Job 19:15 vividly expresses the profound depths of Job's isolation and humiliation. It highlights that even those who were previously under his roof, dependent on him, and bound by the customs of hospitality – his household sojourners and female servants – now regard him as a total outsider and alien. This deep-seated rejection by his most intimate household reflects the completeness of his perceived societal and personal abandonment, adding immense psychological distress to his physical suffering. It reveals how suffering stripped him of his status, his recognition, and even basic human warmth within his own home.

Job 19 15 Context

Job 19:15 is part of Job’s desperate and poignant lament in response to the third cycle of his friends’ accusations, particularly Bildad's speech in Job 18. Having been stripped of his wealth, health, and family, Job now confronts the profound loss of his social identity and the betrayal by those closest to him. In this chapter, Job articulates his deep pain and isolation, feeling utterly abandoned by God, his friends (Job 19:13), his family (Job 19:14), and now even his own household dependents. He asserts his innocence while maintaining an unshakable hope in his Redeemer (Job 19:25-27), a pivotal statement in the book. This specific verse emphasizes the lowest point of Job's public and private disgrace, where the basic bonds of a functional household dissolve, turning familiar faces into indifferent strangers. It reflects the ancient Near Eastern social emphasis on household honor and hospitality, where a breakdown at this fundamental level indicated complete destitution.

Job 19 15 Word analysis

• My kinsmen: This phrase, common in translations, especially in 19:14, might suggest "my family." However, in Job 19:15, the Hebrew is גֵּרֵי בֵיתִי (gerey beiti), literally "the sojourners of my house" or "those who dwell in my house." This refers not to direct family members (addressed in 19:14), but to dependents, guests, or foreign servants living in one’s household. This term highlights their position as "guests" or "temporary residents" who were nevertheless under Job’s protection and care, amplifying the ingratitude and rejection. The Hebrew root גור (gur) means "to sojourn, dwell as a stranger."

• have failed / count me for: The user's text "have failed" seems to align with Job 19:14. For Job 19:15, the Hebrew is חֲשָׁבֻנִי (ḥashavuni), meaning "they count me," "they consider me," or "they reckon me." It denotes a change in their mental estimation or perception of Job, no longer recognizing him for who he was.

• and my close friends: This phrasing also primarily relates to Job 19:14. In Job 19:15, the Hebrew uses וְאַמְהֹתַי (ve'amhotay), meaning "and my female servants" or "my maids." These were highly dependent members of Job's household, implying their complete loyalty. Their rejection signifies an absolute collapse of status and protection for Job, as even those most bound to him now disown him.

• have forgotten me / stranger: For Job 19:15, the corresponding phrase is זָר (zar), meaning "a stranger," "an outsider," or "one not belonging." It emphasizes being unknown or alien.

• I am an alien in their sight: The latter part of the verse: וְנָכְרִי הָיִיתִי בְעֵינֵיהֶם (ve'nokhrī hayiti b'eineyhem).

  • וְנָכְרִי (ve'nokhrī): "and a foreigner," "an alien." This term reinforces zar (stranger), creating a hendiadys (two words conveying one idea) for profound foreignness and exclusion. It means someone from a different land, customs, or even legal standing – completely outside the known community.
  • הָיִיתִי בְעֵינֵיהֶם (hayiti b'eineyhem): "I have become in their eyes." This signifies not just an internal perception but a manifest reality for Job, how he is treated and viewed by his household.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • Gerey beiti ve'amhotay (My house guests and my female servants): This pairing highlights the breadth of Job’s domestic abandonment. "House guests" refers to non-family residents, perhaps travelers or dependent kin who lived under Job’s roof; "female servants" represents the lowest and most dependent strata of the household hierarchy. That even these individuals treat him as a pariah demonstrates the complete societal breakdown around Job, reaching into the very core of his home and sphere of influence.
  • Ḥashavuni zar venokhrī (They consider me a stranger and a foreigner): The double expression "stranger and foreigner" underscores the profound shift in how Job is perceived. He is not merely distant; he is utterly alienated, stripped of any familial, communal, or even human bond within his own home. It suggests a loss of identity and dignity. This state of being zar venokhrī implies not only lack of recognition but potentially suspicion or disdain, moving from host/master to an unwelcome outsider.

Job 19 15 Bonus section

The Hebrew word גֵּר (ger, "sojourner" or "stranger") is frequently used in the Torah to describe non-Israelites residing within Israel (e.g., Lev 19:34, Ex 22:21). The repeated biblical command to care for the ger often stemmed from Israel's own history as gerim in Egypt. Job’s reversal of fortune means he, a man of profound hospitality, is now treated as a ger in his own home, in defiance of all cultural and religious norms regarding the treatment of those dependent upon you. This irony deepens the pathos of his situation. The verse highlights not just neglect but an active recounting or reclassifying of Job as an alien. This deliberate change in perception by those under his care adds an extra layer of rejection, implying an almost willful denial of his past benevolence and authority.

Job 19 15 Commentary

Job 19:15 represents the nadir of Job's social standing, depicting his isolation reaching even into the innermost sanctuary of his home. It is not merely his acquaintances, but those dwelling within his physical house—household members and servants who depended on him—who now count him as a total outsider. This highlights a critical blow to Job's honor and identity, as hospitality and protection of dependents were paramount virtues in the ancient world. When these basic bonds disintegrate, Job's humanity is effectively negated in the eyes of others. The verse underscores that suffering can lead to profound alienation, transforming one from a recognized pillar of the community into a stranger, even in one's own dwelling. This serves as a potent reminder of the fragility of human relationships when trials beset, but also the cruel extent to which adversity can strip one of all conventional comforts and recognition.