Job 27 5

Job 27:5 kjv

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

Job 27:5 nkjv

Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

Job 27:5 niv

I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.

Job 27:5 esv

Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

Job 27:5 nlt

I will never concede that you are right;
I will defend my integrity until I die.

Job 27 verses

Job 27 5 Meaning

Job 27:5 declares Job’s steadfast refusal to compromise his integrity, asserting that he will never admit guilt as falsely claimed by his friends, maintaining his blamelessness before God until his death. It encapsulates his unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness despite severe suffering and accusation.

Job 27 5 Context

Job 27:5 is part of Job’s third and final monologue, following the counsel of his three friends. Throughout the preceding chapters, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have relentlessly accused Job of hidden sin, arguing that his immense suffering must be a direct consequence of divine retribution. They maintained that God is just and therefore, Job must be wicked. In this section (chapters 27-31), Job takes center stage again, affirming his righteousness and rejecting his friends' flawed theology. Job 27:5 is a pinnacle of his defense, an emphatic oath where he states that no matter how much pain he endures, he will never agree with their false premise or confess to sins he has not committed. This verse underscores the central tension of the book: the relationship between righteousness and suffering, and the nature of divine justice. Historically, it challenges simplistic retribution beliefs common in the ancient Near East.

Job 27 5 Word analysis

• חָלִילָה (ḥālîlāh):

  • Meaning: "Far be it from me!", "God forbid!", "By no means!"
  • Significance: A strong, vehement exclamation of abhorrence or denial. It conveys utter rejection of the notion. It is an idiom indicating impossibility or grave unacceptability.

• לִּי (lî):

  • Meaning: "to me", "from me", "for me".
  • Significance: Coupled with ḥālîlāh, it personalizes the strong denial, "Far be it from me."

• מִכֶּם (mikkem):

  • Meaning: "from you", "because of you".
  • Significance: Specifies the source of the condemned assertion—Job's friends. It clarifies that Job rejects their accusations.

• צֶדֶק (ṣeḏeq):

  • Meaning: "righteousness", "justice", "rightness", "integrity".
  • Significance: Used here in the sense of 'you are right' or 'you are correct'. Job explicitly refuses to validate their unjust arguments.

• עָוֹן (‘āvōn):

  • Meaning: "iniquity", "guilt", "sin".
  • Significance: Job’s claim of "not putting away my integrity from me" directly refutes their accusation that his suffering implies ‘āvōn (sin/guilt) on his part.

• Far be it from me that I should say you are right:

  • Significance: A firm and absolute refusal to concede to the friends' theological premise. It's not just a disagreement but a solemn rejection of their mischaracterization of God and Job's own standing. This reflects a commitment to a deeper truth about God's ways beyond simplistic cause-and-effect.

• Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me:

  • Significance: This phrase highlights Job’s unwavering resolve. "Till I die" expresses the utmost commitment, implying permanence and faithfulness unto death. "Put away my integrity" signifies abandonment or surrender of his internal moral uprightness or acknowledgment of guilt he does not bear. It reveals his core conviction: his integrity is an inseparable part of his being that he will not relinquish. It underscores that even faced with mortal peril and extreme pressure, his character will remain uncompromised.

Job 27 5 Bonus section

The Hebrew word translated "integrity" (tummah) often carries the nuance of moral wholeness or blamelessness. It suggests a life lived consistently, without internal duplicity. Job’s declaration in 27:5, that he "will not put away" this integrity, speaks to its active maintenance as an intrinsic part of his being. This isn't merely about Job’s subjective feeling of innocence; it's a profound statement of his objective standing before God, challenging the prevailing theological frameworks of his time that linked suffering directly and solely to personal sin. His refusal to concede to his friends' view is a prophetic witness against a reductionist view of God’s sovereignty and justice, affirming that God’s ways are far more intricate than human theology often accounts for. It implicitly paves the way for a deeper understanding of suffering as not always punitive but sometimes purposed for testing, refinement, or revelation, as indeed revealed by the opening chapters of Job and ultimately by Christ's redemptive suffering.

Job 27 5 Commentary

Job 27:5 is Job’s unequivocal declaration of personal integrity in the face of immense pressure and false accusation. It is a defiant stand against the erroneous doctrine of his friends, who relentlessly pushed a simplistic view of divine retribution where suffering unequivocally signaled sin. Job fundamentally denies their premise, refusing to admit guilt he doesn't have, thereby preserving his own character and, more importantly, protecting his understanding of God's complex justice. His solemn oath, "Till I die," underscores the depth of his conviction and his unwavering commitment to his righteousness before God. This verse reveals Job's profound faithfulness: he maintains his innocence without indicting God as unjust. It serves as a profound testimony to enduring faith even amidst mystery and anguish, setting a biblical precedent for suffering righteousness that transcends simple human logic.

• Example: A Christian facing false accusations in the workplace might recall Job's stance, choosing to uphold their ethical conduct rather than admitting wrongdoing for convenience.
• Example: An individual grappling with unexplained adversity can draw strength from Job's resolve to hold onto their faith and righteous standing, trusting in God’s ultimate vindication, even if understanding remains elusive in the present.