Job 19 18

Job 19:18 kjv

Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

Job 19:18 nkjv

Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me.

Job 19:18 niv

Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me.

Job 19:18 esv

Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.

Job 19:18 nlt

Even young children despise me.
When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me.

Job 19 verses

Job 19 18 Meaning

Job 19:18 conveys Job's profound sense of utter degradation and social isolation. He expresses that even those typically seen as powerless or innocent, "young children," hold him in contempt. Furthermore, any attempt by him to stand up or assert himself is immediately met with mockery and verbal opposition from them, underscoring the completeness of his humiliation and the pervasive nature of the disdain he experiences from society. This highlights the lowest point of his suffering, where all honor and respect, even from the least significant, have vanished.

Job 19 18 Context

Job 19:18 is situated within Job’s third and final extended lament to his friends, beginning in chapter 19. At this point, Job has been utterly broken by his misfortunes, and his friends' continued accusations have driven him to the brink of despair. In the preceding verses (19:8-17), Job details how God has alienated him from his community, stripped him of honor, and made him an outcast. He describes his family, closest friends, and even his own servants as having forsaken, forgotten, or despised him. Verse 18 amplifies this sense of total abandonment and humiliation by highlighting the contempt shown even by those usually expected to respect elders or show innocence – children and youth. This verse precedes his pivotal declaration of faith in his Redeemer (19:25-27), showing the depth of the pit from which his hope springs forth. The cultural context is crucial: in ancient Near Eastern societies, respect for elders and prominent individuals was paramount, making Job's experience of being despised by the youth a profound violation of social norms and an ultimate symbol of his reduced status and disgrace.

Job 19 18 Word analysis

• Even young children (נְעָרִים - ne'arim): This Hebrew term can refer to "youth," "lads," or "boys." It typically designates someone younger than an adult, but not necessarily infants. In Job's context, the inclusion of ne'arim among those who despise him is deeply significant. It amplifies his degradation, as those traditionally expected to be respectful, or at least subservient due to age or social standing (like younger servants), actively scorn him. It's an hyperbolic expression of his complete social downfall, implying even the least significant members of society treat him with utter disrespect, which in the shame-honor culture of the ancient Near East was extremely grievous.

• despise me (אֲדֻדֻנִי - 'aduduni): Derived from the root דּוּד (dud), which can mean to "boil," "scorn," or "treat lightly." Here, it signifies strong contempt, active mockery, or treating Job as something worthless, as refuse, or even stirring him up like a boiling pot, suggesting active harassment and turmoil directed at him. It’s more than just ignoring; it’s an active, demeaning act of rejection.

• If I rise (אָקוּמָה - 'aqūmāh): From the verb קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "stand up," or "become erect." This suggests any attempt by Job to regain his composure, stand tall, or assert any shred of his former dignity. It highlights the pervasive and instant nature of the contempt: his very existence or movement draws scorn. Even a simple physical act or expression of intent to move forward is met with immediate opposition.

• they speak against me (יְדַבְּרוּ־בִי - yəḏabbərû-vî): This signifies verbal abuse, mockery, or slander. The preposition 'bî' (in me/against me) indicates that their speaking is directed at him, possibly to his face, involving insults, accusations, or denigration. This verbal assault reinforces the active and public nature of their contempt, adding auditory humiliation to his visual and social shame. This points to direct confrontation and a lack of deference, an anomaly from youth to an elder in that culture.

• "Even young children despise me; If I rise": This phrase highlights the universality and severity of Job's isolation. It's not just peers or enemies; even the socially least significant individuals (youth or children, traditionally under an elder's authority) reject him. The idea of "if I rise" emphasizes that any attempt to regain dignity, strength, or presence is immediately met with open contempt, showcasing the depth of his loss of social standing.

Job 19 18 Bonus section

The hyperbole used in this verse serves to vividly portray Job’s emotional torment. While literal children might not have engaged in organized mockery of a patriarch, the image paints a stark picture of how completely Job felt himself to be divested of all dignity and honor. This level of societal rejection resonated deeply with the honor-shame dynamics of ancient Near Eastern cultures, where a man's worth was intricately tied to his social standing and the respect he commanded from others, including his subordinates and younger generations. This makes Job’s suffering not merely physical or financial, but an existential crisis of identity and worth within his community. It sets the stage for a suffering servant motif that echoes through the Old Testament and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, "despised and rejected by men."

Job 19 18 Commentary

Job 19:18 provides a powerful and poignant illustration of Job's utter social destitution. Beyond the physical pain and divine abandonment he feels, this verse lays bare the depth of his humiliation at a communal level. To be scorned by "young children" (or youths) was, in ancient society, a mark of absolute dishonor, signifying a complete loss of status and respect. It underscores the severity of Job's isolation, showing that not only adults but even the most dependent members of society no longer accord him basic human respect. The contempt is so profound that even his attempt to merely stand or exist is met with verbal derision. This intense public and personal humiliation foreshadows his later, extraordinary declaration of faith, emphasizing that even from the lowest point of human experience, hope in the Redeemer can spring.