Job 19 16

Job 19:16 kjv

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

Job 19:16 nkjv

I call my servant, but he gives no answer; I beg him with my mouth.

Job 19:16 niv

I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth.

Job 19:16 esv

I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.

Job 19:16 nlt

When I call my servant, he doesn't come;
I have to plead with him!

Job 19 verses

Job 19 16 Meaning

Job 19:16 profoundly conveys the depths of Job's desolation and humiliation. It describes how even his personal servants, who were directly under his authority and reliant on him, disregard his calls. This compels Job, a man once of immense stature and influence, to humble himself and beg or plead with them, a striking reversal of his previously elevated status and inherent dignity.

Job 19 16 Context

Job Chapter 19 is part of Job’s fourth major discourse, serving as both a desperate lament and, paradoxically, a declaration of profound faith in a future Redeemer (vv. 23-27). Leading up to verse 16, Job details how completely he has been abandoned and persecuted, both by God and by his community. He grieves over his friends' betrayal, God's relentless attacks, and the forsaking of his closest family and associates (vv. 13-15).

In the historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East, a master's authority over servants was absolute. Servants (`eved), whether born into the household or acquired, were expected to show complete obedience and deference. Their behavior directly reflected their master's status and honor. To be ignored or defied by one's servants, as Job describes, signified an extreme collapse of social standing and an unbearable loss of personal dignity. This abandonment indicated that even those most dependent on Job were now rejecting him, likely fearing that his calamity was a divine curse making him contagious in their superstitious society. The verse indirectly challenges the prevailing belief that such extreme misfortune could only be the result of severe sin, by showcasing Job's blamelessness and God's sovereign, mysterious dealings.

Job 19 16 Word analysis

• "I call" (אֶקְרָא - eqra): Derived from the Hebrew root qara, meaning "to call," "summon," or "proclaim." It implies a legitimate exercise of authority or a rightful expectation of response. Job, despite his diminished state, still seeks to exercise the inherent right of a master.
• "for my servant" (לְעַבְדִּי - l'avdi): The word eved signifies a servant, slave, or bondservant, highlighting someone under the complete authority and control of another. The possessive "my" underscores Job's previous position of ownership and command. The very personal nature of his interaction with "my servant" makes the disrespect even more poignant.
• "and he does not answer" (וְלֹא יַעֲנֶה - v'lo ya'aneh): From anah, meaning "to answer," "respond," or "attend." In a master-servant relationship, answering signifies immediate acknowledgment and readiness to obey. The explicit "not answering" represents active defiance, an intentional snub, and a profound indication of contempt, demonstrating Job's utter lack of perceived authority.
• "I must plead with him" (אֶתְחַנֶּן־לוֹ - etchannen-lo): Derived from chanan, meaning "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to plead." The Hithpael conjugation (a reflexive-intensive stem) dramatically emphasizes "to seek favor for oneself," "to entreat," or "to beg." This verb sharply contrasts with Job's former standing; a patriarch would issue commands, not humble entreaties, especially not to his own servants. It lays bare his profound helplessness.
• "with my mouth" (בְּמוֹ־פִי - b'mo-pi): Peh denotes "mouth." The preposition b'mo is a poetic or archaic form of "with/by means of." It intensely emphasizes that Job is personally and directly using his voice for supplication, rather than commands. The mouth, which was once the instrument of authority, is now used for the desperate act of begging, heightening the sense of his deep personal indignity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I call for my servant, but he does not answer": This phrase directly establishes the personal and absolute rejection Job experiences within his own home. It paints a vivid picture of the complete breakdown of the societal order and the profound loss of dignity. This isn't just about financial ruin; it’s about being stripped of basic respect and control over those who were bound to serve him.
• "I must plead with him with my mouth": This segment dramatically intensifies the prior humiliation. The initial expectation of a simple acknowledgment or answer gives way to the unbearable reality that Job is forced to assume the posture of a supplicant. This is an unthinkable reversal of power dynamics for a man of Job's previous eminence. The specific mention of "my mouth" personalizes and heightens the sense of shame, as the very organ for authoritative decrees is now debased to begging.

Job 19 16 Bonus section

The deliberate choice of b'mo-pi (a rare, archaic, poetic form for "with my mouth") over the more common b'pi emphasizes the gravity and personal intensity of Job’s plea, underscoring his profound anguish and abasement. This precise detail adds depth to his suffering, implying that his plea is made with deep desperation and conviction. The servants' total disregard not only highlights Job's social ostracism but also reflects the societal fear prevalent at the time, where association with a seemingly "cursed" individual like Job might bring divine wrath upon themselves. This societal aversion deepened Job’s isolation and compounded his inner struggle, showing the pervasive nature of his rejection extending even to the lowliest in his household.

Job 19 16 Commentary

Job 19:16 powerfully depicts the absolute nadir of Job's earthly suffering and societal humiliation. He has been stripped of every marker of human dignity: his wealth is gone, his family devastated, his health destroyed, and his community, including his closest friends and relatives, have forsaken him. This verse seals that profound isolation by showing that even his lowest servants, the most dependent members of his household, disregard his authority. He, the former potentate, is reduced to the desperate act of entreating them with his own voice, a stark reversal from issuing commands. This humiliation underscores the comprehensive nature of his trial, challenging the simplistic ancient worldview that assumed outward prosperity directly indicated divine favor and great suffering signified severe sin. Job’s predicament, despite his blamelessness, lays bare the fragility of human status and relationships. It vividly demonstrates how undeserved suffering can strip away not only possessions but also dignity, basic human respect, and one's very place in the established social order.