Job 19 26

Job 19:26 kjv

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 19:26 nkjv

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,

Job 19:26 niv

And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

Job 19:26 esv

And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,

Job 19:26 nlt

And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!

Job 19 verses

Job 19 26 Meaning

Job 19:26 expresses Job's unwavering hope in his vindication and a future bodily experience of God, even after his physical body has undergone significant decay and destruction. It declares his profound conviction that despite the complete ruin of his current skin and bodily state, he will ultimately "see God" himself, implying a resurrected or renewed physical form to do so, following the coming of his Redeemer. This vision is personal and certain, transcending his present suffering and impending death.

Job 19 26 Context

Job 19:26 is part of Job's profound and defiant declaration of faith in chapter 19. His friends have repeatedly accused him of sin, asserting that his suffering is divine punishment. Utterly devastated, humiliated, and alienated by both his physical afflictions and the unyielding condemnation of his companions, Job appeals directly to the heavens.

In verse 23-24, he yearns for his words to be eternally inscribed, emphasizing their absolute truth. This leads into the pinnacle of his confession in verse 25, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." This declaration of a living, future vindicator is a beacon of hope against his grim reality. Verse 26 elaborates on this hope: after death and bodily decay, Job himself will see God. It's not a general hope for humanity but a deeply personal expectation of vindication and intimate encounter. Historically, this expression of hope for bodily resurrection and seeing God after death was remarkable and ahead of much of the explicit revelation found later in Scripture. It transcends the common understanding of Sheol as a shadowy existence without much hope.

Job 19 26 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• And after: Hebrew "וְאַחַר" (wəʾaḥar). Indicates sequence in time, signifying an event subsequent to his current suffering and physical state. It sets a chronological boundary to the destruction that precedes his ultimate vision.
• my skin: Hebrew "עוֹרִי" (ʿōwri). Refers to his outermost bodily covering, emblematic of his whole physical body, which is ravaged by disease.
• is destroyed: Hebrew "נִקְּפוּ" (niqqəp̄ū). A more challenging term. While some interpret it as "pierced" or "cut off," the broader consensus in context points to "destroyed," "stripped away," or "decayed." It signifies the complete physical ruin and corruption of his body in death.
• this: Hebrew "זוֹאת" (zōʾṯ). Points back to the destruction of his skin, confirming that what he will experience comes after this utter decay.
• yet in/from/without my flesh: Hebrew "וּמִבְּשָׂרִי" (ūmiibbəśāri). This prepositional phrase (min + basar) is critically debated.
  • "From my flesh" (or "out of my flesh"): Suggests that his vision of God will proceed from or out of his bodily experience. This strongly implies a resurrected or transformed body, seeing God within or through a bodily state. This aligns well with the surrounding hope of a bodily Redeemer and future bodily existence.
  • "Without my flesh": This minority interpretation suggests he will see God in a spiritual state, separate from his physical body. While grammatically possible, it fits less coherently with the emphasis on physical deterioration and future physical restoration implied by the Redeemer's standing on earth.
  • "In my flesh": A common English rendering that strongly suggests a bodily vision of God. While the preposition 'min' doesn't typically mean 'in', context supports the implication of a bodily experience.
• I shall see: Hebrew "אֶחֱזֶה" (ʾeḥězâ). A vivid and direct verb meaning "I shall behold," "I shall gaze upon." It denotes personal, clear, and direct visual perception, not a mere mental understanding.
• God: Hebrew "אֱלוֹהַּ" (ʾĕlōhaʿ). A common term for God in the Book of Job, emphasizing His power and majesty. The personal nature of "my eye" seeing "God" is paramount.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And after my skin is destroyed, this": This phrase highlights the full extent of Job's physical suffering and expected demise. His body is literally falling apart due to his disease. He accepts this reality, yet places his hope beyond it. The "after" emphasizes a sequential triumph over physical annihilation.
• "yet in my flesh I shall see God": This is the heart of Job's eschatological hope. The phrase "in my flesh" implies a corporeal existence, meaning Job expects to be restored to a physical state to experience this vision. This powerfully affirms a future bodily resurrection, enabling him to behold God personally. It counters the ancient view that death ends all personal existence and hope for divine interaction. This declaration stands as one of the most remarkable pre-Messianic expressions of bodily resurrection in the Old Testament, showcasing Job's profound, divinely-imparted revelation about life after death and future vindication by his Redeemer.

Job 19 26 Bonus section

• The Aramaic Targum of Job interprets this verse with "from my flesh shall I see the vengeance upon the wicked," shifting the focus to divine retribution, but mainstream Christian theology strongly maintains the focus on Job's personal encounter with God and his vindication.
• The profound nature of this statement from Job is highlighted by its presence in an early poetic book of the Old Testament. It suggests that while detailed eschatological truths were progressively revealed, core insights into life beyond death and a personal relationship with God post-mortem were already present through divine revelation to figures like Job.
• Job's "seeing God" is not just about a future event, but also implicitly about vindication. His current misery suggests God's absence or judgment. The future sight of God means he will be seen by God, and allowed to see God, as righteous, cleared of his friends' accusations.

Job 19 26 Commentary

Job 19:26 is a cornerstone of Job's unwavering faith, revealing a profound and perhaps unique revelation concerning the afterlife. Following his confident declaration of a living Redeemer who will ultimately stand on the earth (Job 19:25), this verse describes the specific, personal impact of that Redeemer's work on Job himself. Despite the severe decay and destruction of his physical body (implied by "after my skin is destroyed, this"), Job possesses a certainty that he will "see God."

The crucial phrase "in/from my flesh" points strongly towards a belief in a future bodily existence or restoration that enables this divine vision. It challenges the common ancient Near Eastern understanding of Sheol as a shadowy, disembodied existence where communion with God was minimal or impossible. Job envisions not merely a spiritual encounter, but a re-embodied perception of God, possibly his vindicator. This vision signifies ultimate restoration, complete reversal of his suffering, and a personal encounter with the Divine who will justify him.

This profound statement provides a proto-resurrection theology, predating fuller revelations in texts like Daniel and many New Testament teachings. It emphasizes the deeply personal nature of salvation and future hope—Job's own eye will behold his God. It serves as an powerful testament to faith that persists even when all visible evidence suggests abandonment, grounding hope not in current circumstances but in the character and future action of the living God and His Redeemer. Job's suffering is not the final word; seeing God will be.