Job 29 11

Job 29:11 kjv

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Job 29:11 nkjv

When the ear heard, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw, then it approved me;

Job 29:11 niv

Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,

Job 29:11 esv

When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved,

Job 29:11 nlt

"All who heard me praised me.
All who saw me spoke well of me.

Job 29 verses

Job 29 11 Meaning

Job 29:11 is Job's powerful lament recalling his past golden age, illustrating how his character and actions were universally affirmed. Those who merely heard about him deemed him fortunate and blessed, while those who directly observed his conduct praised and approved of him, acknowledging his uprightness and benevolence. This verse emphasizes the deep respect and high regard he commanded in society before his calamities.

Job 29 11 Context

Job chapter 29 begins Job's poignant soliloquy, a sorrowful lament contrasting his glorious past with his desolate present. After enduring the harsh criticisms and false comfort of his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar), Job expresses his profound desire for the "days of old" when God's favor was upon him. This chapter vividly describes Job's public standing and esteemed position in the community. He recalls how he was a respected leader, a benevolent judge, and a protector of the vulnerable—the fatherless, the widow, the lame, and the blind. His words served as counsel, his wisdom sought after, and his presence brought quiet and deference. Verse 11 specifically encapsulates the widespread public affirmation he received due to his evident righteousness and just deeds, serving as a foundational element to underscore the injustice of his current suffering and to rebut his friends' accusations that his suffering must be a result of hidden sin. He illustrates that his integrity was not merely personal but recognized and acknowledged by all who encountered him, directly or indirectly.

Job 29 11 Word analysis

• For when the ear heard (כִּי־אֹזֶן שָׁמְעָה - ki-ozen sham'ah):

  • כִּי (ki): "For," introducing the reason or explanation for Job's past status.
  • אֹזֶן (ozen): "Ear." Refers to listening, often symbolizing perception or understanding. Here, it signifies those who heard reports about Job, indicating his reputation extended beyond direct interaction.
  • שָׁמְעָה (sham'ah): "Heard." The Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama) means to hear, to listen, to understand, and often implies to obey. In this context, it emphasizes the act of receiving information or testimony about Job.
  • Significance: It speaks to the widespread nature of Job's positive reputation; his character and good deeds were so known that even those who hadn't directly met him held him in high regard.

• it called me blessed (וַתְּאַשְּׁרֵנִי - va'tashshereni):

  • וַתְּאַשְּׁרֵנִי (va'tashshereni): From the root אָשַׁר (ashar), meaning to make or call someone happy, blessed, or fortunate. It implies public affirmation and declaration of his perceived favor or happiness.
  • Significance: This isn't just about Job feeling blessed, but others declaring him blessed. It’s an active acknowledgment of his flourishing and the good that attended his life, likely due to his uprightness. This verb is similar to how "blessed" is used in the Beatitudes.

• and when the eye saw (וְעַיִן רָאֲתָה - ve'ayin ra'atah):

  • וְעַיִן (ve'ayin): "And eye." Symbolizes direct observation, witness, or personal experience.
  • רָאֲתָה (ra'atah): "Saw." From the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning to see, perceive, understand.
  • Significance: This complements "the ear heard" by referring to those who had direct, personal experience with Job's actions and character. It shows that his virtue withstood scrutiny; he wasn't just well-known, he was also genuinely righteous in action.

• it approved (הִרְמִּילוּ - hirmlilu in the Masoretic Text, KJV: "it gave witness to me"):

  • הִרְמִּילוּ (hirmlilu): From the root מָלַל (malal), meaning to utter, speak, talk. In this context, it implies speaking well of, commending, or affirming someone's character or actions. The alternative Masoretic Text (Qere) reading for this word is תְּעִידֵנִי (tə‘iḏênî) from the root עָוַד ('avvad), which means "to testify" or "to give witness," lending to the KJV translation. Both interpretations point to a positive verbal affirmation.
  • Significance: Whether interpreted as "commended" or "gave witness," it indicates that observers actively confirmed Job's integrity. It was not mere passive seeing but an active declaration of approval for his actions and life. It testifies to his moral standing.

Words-group analysis

• "When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved": This entire verse showcases a balanced poetic parallelism (specifically a chiastic structure if considered conceptually A-B-B'-A', with 'hearing'/'seeing' flanking 'blessed'/'approved/witnessed'). It conveys the comprehensive nature of Job's reputation. Both indirect knowledge (heard reports) and direct observation (witnessed deeds) led to the same positive conclusion: Job was a righteous and highly esteemed individual. It's a testimony to the integrity of Job's life which shone through in all his interactions and public persona. His good character was undeniable, compelling widespread affirmation.

Job 29 11 Bonus section

The strong affirmation Job received from the community stands in stark contrast to his friends' accusations of his secret sin, thereby strengthening his argument for his innocence. It speaks to the power of a lived life demonstrating righteousness and compassion, which naturally commands respect and public endorsement, mirroring how a good tree bears good fruit that is plain for all to see. This public validation also deepens the emotional weight of Job's lament; his past glory makes his current desolation all the more inexplicable and painful.

Job 29 11 Commentary

Job 29:11 is a pivotal statement in Job's defense, illustrating that his integrity was not merely self-proclaimed but was openly and consistently validated by his community. He asserts that his past life was a transparent book of good deeds, so clear that both hearsay and direct observation invariably led to praise and commendation. This serves to counter the prevailing theology of his friends who argue that suffering is always a direct result of sin. Job implicitly asks: If my life was so manifestly righteous and publicly approved, how could I now be enduring such extreme suffering due to hidden iniquity? The verse underscores the moral gravity of his loss and challenges simplistic notions of divine retribution, positioning Job as a figure whose exemplary character should have shielded him, based on conventional wisdom, from such catastrophe.