Job 19:19 kjv
All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
Job 19:19 nkjv
All my close friends abhor me, And those whom I love have turned against me.
Job 19:19 niv
All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.
Job 19:19 esv
All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.
Job 19:19 nlt
My close friends detest me.
Those I loved have turned against me.
Job 19 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 38:11 | My friends and my companions stand aloof from my plague... | Friends and kin abandoning the sufferer |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend, whom I trusted... has lifted his heel against me. | Betrayal by a trusted friend |
| Ps 55:12-14 | For it is not an enemy who taunts me... But it is you, a man, my equal... | Anguish of betrayal by intimate companion |
| Ps 88:8 | You have removed my companions far from me; you have made me an abomination... | Complete social ostracism and abandonment |
| Ps 69:8 | I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. | Alienation from family |
| Job 6:14-15 | He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty... | Job's friends failing in their duty of kindness |
| Job 12:4 | I am a laughingstock to my friends; I who called to God and he answered me. | Job mocked by those he once knew well |
| Job 16:20 | My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God. | Friends scorn Job in his suffering |
| Lam 1:2 | All her lovers have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. | Betrayal by former allies |
| Is 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. | The suffering Servant's rejection |
| Zec 13:6 | And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’... | Prophetic foreshadowing of suffering/betrayal |
| Mt 26:31 | “You will all fall away because of me this night.” | Disciples deserting Jesus |
| Mk 14:50 | And they all left him and fled. | Disciples' abandonment of Jesus in Gethsemane |
| Lk 23:49 | And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him... stood at a distance. | Acquaintances watching from afar |
| Jn 16:32 | Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered... | Foreshadowing abandonment of Jesus by disciples |
| 2 Tim 4:16 | At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. | Paul's experience of being forsaken |
| Jer 20:10 | For I hear many whispering... “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” | Prophet's friends/acquaintances turning foes |
| Mic 7:5-6 | Put no trust in a neighbor... a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. | Betrayal from close quarters |
| Prov 18:24 | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Contrast to Job's experience |
| Heb 11:36-38 | Others suffered mocking and flogging... destitute, afflicted, mistreated... | General suffering and ostracism of believers |
| Ps 22:7-8 | All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads... | General mockery and rejection |
| Gen 37:25-28 | Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, despite being kin. | Betrayal by close family |
| Job 2:11 | Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil... | Initial context of the friends coming |
Job 19 verses
Job 19 19 Meaning
Job 19:19 declares Job's complete alienation from those who were once his most trusted confidantes. It highlights the profound suffering of rejection from his closest circles, who, instead of offering solace or support, have turned away from him in abhorrence and active opposition. This verse underscores the extreme depth of Job's earthly isolation and betrayal, positioning him as an outcast even among those with whom he shared deep intimacy and counsel.
Job 19 19 Context
Job 19:19 is spoken by Job in his third speech, a pivotal moment in the dialogue where he is at the depths of his despair concerning his human relationships. Prior to this verse, Job has recounted how God has afflicted him (Job 19:6-12), how his family and servants have forsaken him (Job 19:13-17), and how even children despise him (Job 19:18). This comprehensive list of human abandonment sets the stage for the climactic declaration in verse 19, where he specifically mentions "my secret friends." The verse thus intensifies his isolation by indicating that even those in his inner, most confidential circle have not only distanced themselves but have actively turned against him with loathing. It paints a picture of utter earthly desolation, creating a stark contrast to the profound hope of a Redeemer that Job proclaims just a few verses later (Job 19:25-27), demonstrating that even in ultimate human abandonment, Job clings to divine hope.
Job 19 19 Word analysis
All: (כֹּל, kol) – Signifies totality, emphasizing that there were no exceptions. It highlights the comprehensiveness of the abandonment Job faced, indicating that not even a single "secret friend" remained loyal.
my: (suffix -ִי, i) – Possessive pronoun, stressing the personal and intimate nature of these relationships. These were Job's own friends.
private/secret: (סוֹדִי, sodi – from סוֹד, sod) – This Hebrew term signifies intimate counsel, close association, a confidential circle, or a secret assembly. It suggests friends with whom Job shared his innermost thoughts, plans, and deepest secrets, implying a bond beyond casual acquaintance. Historically and culturally, such "men of sod" would have been highly trusted advisors and confidantes, critical for leadership and personal well-being. Their betrayal is a profound wound.
friends: (מְתֵי, m'thei – literally "men of") – Implies close companions, particularly in the context of "men of my counsel." This term distinguishes them from mere acquaintances, reinforcing the idea of a deep and reliable connection that has been catastrophically broken.
abhor: (תָּעֲבוּנִי, tā‘ăḇūnî – from root תָּעַב, ta’ab) – This is a very strong Hebrew verb indicating extreme disgust, detestation, loathing, or to consider something an abomination. It's more than just turning away; it implies a visceral repulsion. This active revulsion adds another layer of suffering for Job, signifying a moral judgment being passed against him by those closest to him. It carries polemical weight against the traditional belief that God's favor indicates righteousness and suffering indicates sin, as Job is being "abhorred" even by his intimates without actual sin.
and they: (וְהֵם, w’hem) – The conjunction "and" links the previous clause to this one, showing a progression from general abhorrence to specific active turning. The pronoun "they" clearly refers back to the "private friends."
are turned against me: (הָפְכֻנִי, hāp̄əḵūnî – from root הָפַךְ, hāpak) – This verb signifies to turn, overturn, change, or transform. Here, it denotes a complete reversal of their posture and disposition towards Job. It's not passive withdrawal but an active opposition, transforming their relationship from one of intimate friendship to one of enmity and antagonism. It indicates a deliberate act of rejection.
"All my private friends": This phrase encapsulates the deepest level of Job's human loss. It's a statement about the severing of the most intimate bonds of trust and loyalty, representing the crushing blow to his relational integrity and the isolation of his soul.
"abhor me, and they are turned against me": This constitutes a parallelism that intensifies the act of betrayal. "Abhor" denotes an internal, emotional repulsion, while "turned against me" signifies an external, active opposition. Together, they depict a comprehensive rejection where internal feeling and external action conspire to devastate Job's last vestiges of human support. The repetition highlights the profound and absolute nature of his friends' betrayal.
Job 19 19 Bonus section
The term sod (סוֹד) extends beyond just "secret" or "private"; in wisdom literature, it can also refer to God's "secret counsel" or "confidential plans" shared with the righteous (Ps 25:14, Prov 3:32). This adds an implicit layer of irony or tragic contrast in Job's lament. Job, a man known for his righteousness, is rejected by his human "men of counsel," yet in the broader narrative of the book, he ultimately finds himself in deeper communion with God's divine counsel, even if not fully comprehending it at this stage. His friends, by turning on him, reveal themselves as truly not being "men of God's counsel" or acting in divine wisdom. Their "abhorrence" reflects their flawed theology which deemed Job an abomination due to his suffering.
Job 19 19 Commentary
Job 19:19 delivers a searing indictment of human treachery and abandonment, particularly poignant as it comes from Job's "men of counsel," those with whom he shared the closest confidence. This verse captures the agony of experiencing utter societal and relational desolation, a betrayal far deeper than mere acquaintance. It showcases the cruel irony of his situation: those who should have offered solace and shared in his burden now express the strongest possible aversion and active hostility. The intensity of the Hebrew words chosen—sod for intimate counsel, ta'ab for abhorrence, and hapak for turning completely against—underscores the profound depths of his pain. This absolute alienation from earthly companions serves as a bleak backdrop against which Job's forthcoming confession of hope in a living Redeemer (Job 19:25) shines even brighter, highlighting that his only remaining steadfast comfort is in God, not in man. It’s a powerful lesson in misplaced trust and the fragility of human loyalty, redirecting Job's focus—and the reader's—towards an unshakeable divine foundation.Examples: A leader deserted by his closest advisors in crisis; an individual ostracized by their faith community despite proclaiming innocence; someone suffering severe illness abandoned by friends.