Job 9 28

Job 9:28 kjv

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

Job 9:28 nkjv

I am afraid of all my sufferings; I know that You will not hold me innocent.

Job 9:28 niv

I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.

Job 9:28 esv

I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.

Job 9:28 nlt

I would still dread all the pain,
for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.

Job 9 verses

Job 9 28 Meaning

Job 9:28 reveals Job's profound despair and the perceived futility of his efforts to find relief from suffering. He contemplates attempting to suppress his bitter complaint and project an outward appearance of cheerfulness, as if to escape his perceived condemnation. However, this verse immediately concludes with Job's conviction that such an act would be useless, for he believes that God has already pronounced him guilty, and this divine decree of guilt makes any outward pretense of innocence or joy impossible. It is the deep-seated belief in his unjust condemnation by a powerful God that renders his internal anguish unshakeable and his outward expression irrelevant.

Job 9 28 Context

Job chapter 9 forms part of Job's response to Bildad, who had upheld the conventional wisdom that God only punishes the wicked, implying Job's suffering must be due to hidden sin. In this chapter, Job acknowledges God's immeasurable power and wisdom (Job 9:4-10). However, he argues that this omnipotence is precisely what makes him despair. God acts with unchallengeable sovereignty, striking down both the innocent and the wicked indiscriminately (Job 9:11-12, 22). Job feels overwhelmed by God's sheer might, rendering any attempt to contend with Him futile, even if Job were truly innocent (Job 9:14-20). In this context, Job 9:28 expresses the deep-seated conviction that if God has already marked him as guilty – even arbitrarily or without clear cause – then any external attempt to suppress his anguish or project joy would be a meaningless facade. His internal state is a direct consequence of his perceived divine judgment, not merely an outward disposition he can choose to alter. The historical context reflects a prevalent retribution theology among Job's friends, which Job relentlessly challenges through his experience of unmerited suffering.

Job 9 28 Word analysis

• "If I say": Hebrew: הֲאִם אָמַרְתִּי (haʾim ʾamarti). The opening particles introduce a hypothetical or rhetorical question, conveying a deep inner thought process or struggle. It implies Job's contemplation of a futile attempt. It's a conditional statement, exploring an unfeasible possibility in his mind.
• "I will forget": Hebrew: אֶשְׁכַּח (ʾeshkaḥ). From the root shākhaḥ (to forget, disregard, abandon). Here, it signifies an attempt to dismiss or push away the persistent, painful reality of his complaint. It highlights an act of suppression rather than true healing.
• "my complaint": Hebrew: שִׂיחִי (siḥi). From siaḥ (to meditate, complain, mourn). This word describes not just a simple grumble, but a deep, sorrowful meditation or lament that emanates from profound grief and distress. It's an internal preoccupation with his suffering and the perceived injustice.
• "I will change": Hebrew: אַעַזְבָה (ʾaʿazvâ). From the root ʿāzav (to abandon, forsake, leave). Literally, "I will abandon/forsake my face." This implies a deliberate, artificial altering of his natural facial expression of sorrow.
• "my expression": Hebrew: פָנַי (panai). "My face" or "my countenance." The face is the outward manifestation of one's inner state and emotions. Job considers putting on a mask or feigning a different demeanor.
• "and smile": Hebrew: וְאַבְלִיגָה (veʾavlīgâ). From the root bālag (to recover strength, to look cheerful, to brighten up). This conveys an attempt to appear cheerful, strong, or bright. It's not a natural welling up of joy, but a forced, outward show designed to hide inner pain.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,' ": This phrase reveals Job's inner conflict. He considers suppressing his deep-seated anguish and ceaseless lament, recognizing that his complaints define his current existence. The very idea highlights the overwhelming nature of his internal struggle and how deeply his suffering has permeated his being. To "forget" such a fundamental part of his experience suggests an aspiration for an unnatural self-deception.
• "I will change my expression and smile,": This part demonstrates Job's desperate desire to appear different outwardly. "Changing his expression" (literally "forsaking his face") means abandoning the tell-tale signs of his grief and agony. To "smile" in this context is to put on a facade of cheerfulness, indicating a conscious, forced effort to appear unaffected, likely for the benefit of his friends or to somehow convince himself otherwise. This artificiality underscores the profound chasm between his outer presentation and his inner turmoil, a chasm that he realizes is ultimately futile to bridge when faced with perceived divine condemnation.

Job 9 28 Bonus section

The verse eloquently portrays the universal human tendency to mask internal pain with an external show, yet simultaneously highlights the ultimate ineffectiveness of such pretense before the All-knowing God. Job's contemplation of a "forced smile" emphasizes his isolation and lack of genuine comfort. It implies a struggle against himself as much as against his circumstances and the opinions of his friends. The Hebrew verbs for "forget," "change," and "smile" all convey intentional, effortful actions, stressing that such an act would not be natural for Job but a strenuous exertion. The verse speaks to the profound futility of attempting to manage God's perception or His will through human deception, especially when the soul feels burdened by a conviction of condemnation. It showcases the Joban challenge to superficial religious understanding, where genuine spiritual affliction cannot be solved by a change of outward disposition but demands a deeper reckoning with divine purpose.

Job 9 28 Commentary

Job 9:28 articulates Job's despairing insight into the futility of human artifice in the face of perceived divine judgment. He recognizes that any attempt to suppress his inner complaint or to put on a cheerful facade is pointless. Job is not trying to justify himself morally in God's eyes; he believes that God has already judged him guilty and afflicted him without recourse, making outward appearance entirely irrelevant. The problem is not his physical display of sorrow, but the profound, inescapable guilt he feels God has ascribed to him. Even if he could mentally "forget" his deep complaint or physically force a "smile," these superficial acts would not alter his fundamental standing before an omniscient God who sees beyond external pretense. His suffering is so deeply interwoven with his conviction of divine condemnation that no mere change of attitude or appearance could alleviate his torment. This verse underscores the immense psychological burden Job carries, believing himself to be caught in an unbreakable decree of guilt, no matter his true righteousness.