Job 22 19

Job 22:19 kjv

The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

Job 22:19 nkjv

"The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:

Job 22:19 niv

The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying,

Job 22:19 esv

The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,

Job 22:19 nlt

"The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed,
and the innocent will laugh in contempt.

Job 22 verses

Job 22 19 Meaning

Job 22:19 describes the reaction of the righteous and innocent to the downfall of the wicked, which Eliphaz has just depicted in the preceding verses (Job 22:15-18). It states that those who live righteously will observe God's judgment upon the wicked and will rejoice. Furthermore, those who are blameless will respond with derision or mockery towards the ungodly who have met their deserved end. This portrays a scene of divine vindication where justice prevails and the faithful acknowledge God's righteous rule.

Job 22 19 Context

Job 22:19 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and final speech to Job. Throughout the book, Eliphaz and the other friends operate from a theological premise known as the retribution principle: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. In this chapter, Eliphaz becomes increasingly direct, accusing Job of specific, though baseless, sins (v. 5-9) to explain his suffering. He warns Job against refusing to repent, using the examples of those who rejected God (v. 15-18). Verse 19 follows directly from this warning, describing the inevitable consequence: the wicked are swept away (v.18), and the righteous, far from pitying them, rejoice in the just execution of divine judgment. This verse reinforces Eliphaz's core argument that God always punishes the wicked, and the righteous are a witness to this vindication.

Job 22 19 Word analysis

• וְיִרְאוּ (v’yire’u): "And they see" or "they will see." The initial 'ו' (waw) acts as a conjunctive or consecutive, linking this consequence directly to the preceding depiction of the wicked's destruction. It implies direct observation, not merely abstract knowledge, highlighting a witnessed vindication.
• צַדִּיקִים (tsaddiqim): "the righteous." Plural form of tsaddiq, denoting those who are just, morally upright, and in right relationship with God. In the context of the Joban dialogue, it refers to those whom Eliphaz believes Job is not, due to his suffering, but whom Job insists he truly is.
• וְיִשְׂמָחוּ (v’yis’makhû): "and are glad," "and rejoice." This verb signifies joy and happiness. This is not presented as malicious delight in another's pain but rather joy derived from witnessing God's justice being manifested and a sense of divine order being upheld.
• וְנָקִי (v’naqi): "and the innocent." Singular form, often used in parallelism with 'righteous' to emphasize blamelessness. Naqi specifically conveys freedom from guilt or fault, directly countering the implied accusations of sin against Job. It highlights moral purity.
• יִלְעַג־לָמוֹ (yil'ag-lamo): "mock them." The root la'ag conveys derision, scorn, or scoffing. This specific form of mockery is a severe contempt, often associated with witnessing divine judgment. The suffix '-lamo' means "to/for them." It signifies not pity but rather a strong affirmation of the wicked's just downfall and the foolishness of their choices.

Words-group analysis:

• "The righteous see it and are glad": This phrase underlines the positive emotional response of the godly to God's act of justice. Their gladness comes from the conviction that God truly governs and justly recompenses, even if this conviction has been challenged by the perceived prosperity of the wicked. It affirms the integrity of God's character.
• "the innocent mock them": This specific mockery by the innocent reflects a complete disdain for the ways of the wicked and the ultimate futility of their rebellion against God. It signifies a profound vindication of the righteous, as the tables are turned. Where once the wicked might have scoffed at the suffering righteous, now the roles are reversed by God's decree, displaying the foolishness of sin.

Job 22 19 Bonus section

• Eliphaz's consistent theology aligns with the prevailing wisdom tradition of his era, which generally expected immediate, earthly consequences for good and evil deeds. This expectation creates a major tension point within the book of Job, which challenges this very principle.
• The "it" that the righteous see, though implied, clearly refers to the judgment and destruction of the wicked detailed in the preceding verses. It makes the divine judgment palpable and witnessed.
• The mocking by the innocent represents a powerful affirmation of divine judgment, acting as a direct opposite to the frequent biblical motif of the wicked mocking the righteous and God Himself (e.g., Psa 73). Here, the roles are dramatically reversed by God.
• This verse contributes to the larger theme of God's ultimate justice and triumph over wickedness, a truth reiterated across the biblical narrative, though the timing and means of that triumph are not always immediate or discernible to human eyes.

Job 22 19 Commentary

Eliphaz's words in Job 22:19 distill a foundational aspect of his and the friends' theological framework: the direct, immediate, and visible retribution for the wicked, which inevitably leads to the righteous rejoicing in God's demonstrated justice. For Eliphaz, the destruction of the ungodly, depicted in verses 15-18, is a clear sign of God's active involvement in human affairs. The joy and mockery of the righteous are not portrayed as sadistic but as an appropriate response to the vindication of God's righteous governance. It reaffirms the divine order. This view serves to implicitly accuse Job, suggesting that if the righteous rejoice at the wicked's fall, then Job's continued suffering means he cannot be counted among the righteous. The mockery expressed is less about personal triumph and more about the recognition of God's just sovereignty over evil, affirming the ultimate foolishness of those who disregard Him. While a core biblical truth about God's justice is present, Eliphaz applies it rigidly and often inaccurately to Job's situation, failing to grasp the complexities of righteous suffering and God's sovereign purposes.