Job 19 27

Job 19:27 kjv

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Job 19:27 nkjv

Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19:27 niv

I myself will see him with my own eyes?I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19:27 esv

whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Job 19:27 nlt

I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Job 19 verses

Job 19 27 Meaning

Job 19:27 expresses Job's unwavering conviction and hope that he will personally witness God, his Redeemer, in his own embodied form, and not through another or as an alien presence. This declaration comes despite his severe physical deterioration and inner turmoil, highlighting a faith that transcends the immediate realities of suffering and impending death, pointing towards a future vindication and direct encounter with the Divine.

Job 19 27 Context

Job 19:27 is part of Job's eloquent and profound response to Bildad, the third round of speeches (chapters 18-21). Prior to this verse, Job has endured relentless accusations from his friends, who insist that his suffering is direct evidence of sin. Job has also expressed deep despair over his abandonment by God and man (Job 19:6-12). He laments his decaying flesh and lost dignity (Job 19:20). Yet, amidst this profound anguish and feeling of cosmic isolation, Job expresses an astonishing leap of faith in verses 23-27. He yearns for his words to be inscribed, so their truth might endure (Job 19:23-24). This sets the stage for his climactic declaration of hope: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26). Verse 27 reiterates and personalizes this hope, emphasizing his direct, personal vision of God despite his impending death. Culturally, this declaration of bodily resurrection and personal vision of God was remarkably forward-looking for the Ancient Near East, where views of the afterlife were often vague and gloomy (Sheol). Job's statement implicitly counters this prevailing worldview and also directly challenges the retribution theology of his friends by asserting a future vindication not dependent on his current suffering.

Job 19 27 Word analysis

• Whom I shall see for myself (אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי אֶחֱזֶה־לִּי - asher ani eḥezeh-li):
  • asher (אֲשֶׁר): A relative pronoun, meaning "that" or "whom." Here, it points back to "God" from the previous verse.
  • ani (אֲנִי): "I," emphasizing the first-person, personal nature of the sight.
  • eḥezeh (אֶחֱזֶה): From the root חָזָה (hazah), meaning "to see," "to behold," often with the implication of a steady, discerning gaze, a vision, or a prophetic insight. It's more than a casual glance; it implies comprehension and engagement.
  • li (לִּי): "For myself," "to me," or "personally." This suffix strengthens the emphasis on the subjective, proprietorial nature of the experience. It will be Job's personal encounter.
• and mine eyes shall behold (וְעֵינַי רָאוּ - ve'einay ra'u):
  • ve'einay (וְעֵינַי): "And my eyes." The word for "eyes" (עין - ayin) denotes literal sight.
  • ra'u (רָאוּ): From the common root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," "to look upon," "to perceive." This phrase serves as an emphatic parallel to the preceding one, reinforcing the certainty and directness of the physical vision. It's not a mere spiritual apprehension, but a full, personal perception with his own eyes.
• and not another (וְלֹא זָר - ve'lo zar):
  • ve'lo (וְלֹא): "And not." A negation.
  • zar (זָר): "A stranger," "foreigner," "alien." This crucial word emphasizes that the vision will be Job's own, not a proxy or a substitute seeing on his behalf. It could also imply "not an estranged one" or "not a distant entity," but his very own God, the Redeemer.
• though my reins be consumed within me (וְכָלּוּ כִלְיוֹתַי בְּחֵקִי - vekhallu khilyotay bekheki):
  • vekhallu (וְכָלּוּ): "And are consumed," "perish," "fail." Indicates complete depletion or decay.
  • khilyotay (כִלְיוֹתַי): "My kidneys," "my reins." In ancient Hebrew thought, the kidneys and heart were considered the seat of deep emotions, the innermost being, and sometimes the conscience or intellect. The "reins" signify the core of his vitality, his strength, and his innermost feelings.
  • bekheki (בְּחֵקִי): "Within my bosom," "within me." Refers to the inner body cavity, symbolizing Job's entire internal existence, encompassing his very being and deepest vitals.
  • Phrase analysis: This concluding clause underscores the stark contrast between Job's present, dying physical state and his future, certain hope. It declares that even if his most vital and innermost parts are utterly wasting away—a literal picture of his painful illness—his faith in a personal, future encounter with God remains steadfast. This is not a hypothetical condition but Job's current reality. The vision transcends physical decay.

Job 19 27 Bonus section

The strength of Job's statement lies in its context as a pre-Abrahamic, possibly pre-Mosaic, declaration of such specific eschatological hope. While Israel's understanding of the afterlife and resurrection would develop further through later prophets, Job's words stand as a remarkably clear and confident affirmation, suggesting an ancient thread of divine revelation concerning post-mortal existence and divine vindication. The concept of God as "Go'el" (kinsman-redeemer) in Job 19:25 is critical, transforming a legal, societal role into a theological one where God acts as Job's ultimate avenger, rescuer, and restorer. This profoundly personal God-relationship provides the foundation for Job's radical hope. Furthermore, Job's longing for this direct vision finds ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, who through His resurrection ensures the bodily resurrection of believers, and whose very person makes God knowable and visible (Jn 14:9; Heb 1:3). Thus, Job's yearning "to see God" echoes across millennia, finally answered in the new covenant.

Job 19 27 Commentary

Job 19:27 encapsulates the triumphant hope of Job amidst his unparalleled suffering. Having been stripped of everything and utterly alienated, Job fixes his gaze beyond his present anguish and impending death. His declaration is one of profound personal affirmation: he will not merely "see" God as a distant concept, but "for himself" and "with his own eyes." The "not another" signifies a deeply intimate and direct encounter, ensuring that his vindication will be personal and complete. This statement carries immense prophetic weight, foreshadowing the bodily resurrection taught in later scriptures. Despite his body being "consumed," implying extreme physical deterioration, his hope remains vivid and robust. It's a testament to faith's power to pierce through despair, envisioning a future where all wrongs are righted and a pure vision of God is granted. This verse affirms the value of individual human existence and the ultimate justice of God that extends beyond the grave, offering solace that even when life utterly fails, God remains the ultimate end and reward for the faithful.