Job 6 28

Job 6:28 kjv

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

Job 6:28 nkjv

Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face.

Job 6:28 niv

"But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?

Job 6:28 esv

"But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.

Job 6:28 nlt

Look at me!
Would I lie to your face?

Job 6 verses

Job 6 28 Meaning

Job appeals to his friends to genuinely observe and perceive his condition, challenging them to truly look at him rather than merely speaking to him. He then asserts his unwavering honesty, declaring that he will speak the truth forthrightly and directly to them, without any deceit or pretense concerning his suffering or innocence.

Job 6 28 Context

Job chapter 6 records Job's first response to Eliphaz's accusations in chapter 4 and 5. Overwhelmed by his immense suffering, Job expresses deep lament and a longing for death as release (vv. 2-13). He challenges the friends, accusing them of being treacherous, like dried-up wadis, offering no true comfort (vv. 14-23). He then directly asks them to clarify his alleged transgression, stating his openness to correction (vv. 24-25). He observes that they find fault with words, even desperate pleas, rather than acknowledging the truth of his agony (v. 26). The preceding verse (v. 27) likens them to those who would cast lots over an orphan or trade a friend, emphasizing their betrayal. Against this backdrop of perceived treachery and misunderstanding, Job issues his challenge in verse 28, urging them to truly see his sincerity and stating he has no reason to deceive them about his situation.

Job 6 28 Word analysis

• Now therefore: This serves as a consequential or concluding conjunction, linking Job's earlier lament and accusations of betrayal to a direct appeal. It signals a turning point in his address, moving from expressing his despair and disappointment with their lack of sympathy to a challenge regarding his integrity.
• be pleased (חָפֵץ - ḥāphēṣ): Implies an earnest, almost desperate, request. While "be pleased" can suggest polite invitation, here amidst Job's raw anguish, it underscores his profound desire for their genuine understanding. He wants them not just to passively observe but to desire to look closely, signifying a yearning for empathy and honest discernment.
• to look at me (רְאוּ־נָא - rāʾū-nāʾ):
  • rāʾū is an imperative verb from rāʾah (רָאָה), meaning "to see, behold, perceive." It's not a superficial glance but a command for active, focused observation and comprehension. Job calls them to move beyond abstract theological debates to confront his lived reality.
  • nāʾ (נָא) is an intensifier, often translated as "please" or "now." It adds urgency and earnestness to Job's plea, emphasizing his desire for them to truly apprehend his situation.
  • Significance: This phrase contrasts sharply with the friends' perceived blindness. They had been "seeing" him through their pre-set doctrines. Job demands they see him as he is, through genuine perception, challenging them to confront empirical reality over speculative judgment. It's a call for discernment, not mere visual contact.
• for (כִּי - kî): Introduces the reason or justification for his request. Job is providing the ground upon which he bases his demand for their careful observation – his integrity.
• I will not lie (לֹא אַכַזֵּב - loʾ akazzēv):
  • loʾ is the negative particle, "not."
  • akazzēv is a verb from the root kāḥash (כָּחַשׁ), meaning "to lie, deceive, deny, or disappoint/fail." It encompasses verbal deceit and acts of dishonesty or disloyalty. Job explicitly denies any intent to utter falsehoods or behave deceptively regarding his condition.
  • Significance: This powerful assertion highlights Job's deep commitment to truth. Despite his suffering, or perhaps because of it, he refuses to compromise his integrity. It implies that honesty is crucial for true communication and resolution, something he feels has been lacking in his friends' discourse.
• to your face (עַל־פָּנֶיךָ - ʿal-pānekhā):
  • Literally "upon your face/faces." This Hebrew idiom denotes directness, openness, and unreserved speaking. It means face-to-face, publicly, without pretense or concealment.
  • Significance: Job stresses the transparent and upfront nature of his truthfulness. He is not speaking ambiguously, hiding his pain, or using evasive language. His words are direct and undisguised, unlike what he might perceive as their veiled accusations or disingenuous comfort. This bold assertion underscores his challenge to them for genuine engagement.

Words-group Analysis

• "Now therefore, be pleased to look at me": This group of words forms an urgent appeal for sincere, non-judgmental observation. Job desires an active, empathetic witnessing of his true state, implying that their previous 'looking' was superficial or prejudiced. It sets the stage for a plea for honest and direct interaction, shifting from their theoretical judgments to his raw reality.
• "for I will not lie to your face": This powerful affirmation underpins Job's character. He asserts his profound integrity, promising unvarnished truth. The direct "to your face" emphasizes transparency and boldness, contrasting with any possible insinuation that Job is feigning his distress or is secretly guilty. He calls for mutual openness in dialogue.

Job 6 28 Bonus section

• Job's appeal to "look at me" is a call for forensic observation. He invites their scrutiny, as if to say, "Examine my conduct and my words; you will find no deceit." This echoes courtroom imagery where a person presents themselves for judgment.
• The phrase "I will not lie" directly refutes any unspoken or implied charge from his friends that he might be denying hidden sin. He is preemptively asserting his veracity, which suggests the depth of the suspicion or mistrust he perceives from them.
• This verse represents Job’s attempt to restore authentic dialogue, one based on observation and honest confession, rather than mere theological speculation and debate. It emphasizes his personal anguish over abstract truths.

Job 6 28 Commentary

Job 6:28 captures the agonizing sincerity of a righteous man suffering unjustly. In a world that assumed a direct correlation between sin and suffering, Job, innocent yet afflicted, desperately seeks an understanding that transcends simplistic theological formulas. His plea "be pleased to look at me" is a challenge to his friends' intellectual and spiritual empathy; he asks them to abandon their dogmatic presumptions and engage with the verifiable reality of his pain and his persistent blamelessness. The declaration "I will not lie to your face" is a bold affirmation of his integrity, setting his unvarnished honesty against the subtle accusations and inadequate comforts offered by his friends. This verse is central to Job's pursuit of truth, demanding a genuine confrontation with the facts of his situation rather than relying on theological inferences that malign his character. It highlights the vital importance of truthful speech in fellowship and the profound need for witnesses who genuinely see and believe in the integrity of a suffering soul, even when it challenges established wisdom.