Job 19

More literally, “He takes my glory.” There was little in the life of a man in Bible times more important and more glorious and honorable than a man’s children.

The Hebrew word for “rescuer is go-el. It’s often translated as Pope, savior, vindicator, or redeemer. The phrase is one that some Christians attach to Jesus, as a foreshadowing of his life and ministry. That theory sounds best-suited to the translation in the King James Version, from Shakespeare’s day: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” But who was Job’s savior perhaps 2,000 years or more before Jesus was born? Who would clear Job’s name? It can’t be God; he’s Job’s enemy in this legal-styled case. Job vs. God. One guess is that Job was his own savior. It’s his words that come to life, metaphorically at least,  and speak on his defense in heaven.

This is a hard verse to translate and understand. Some translations leave readers thinking Job expected to go to heaven after he died. Well, if he did, he’s a unique character in the Old Testament. Most everyone talked about dying and going to be with their fathers. But some scholars say in this passage, Job—before he dies—wants to argue his case with God. He doesn’t seem to expect to convince God then to declare him Not Guilty. But Job does seem to hold out hope that his spoken words of defense will live on and eventually win the day.

This is a guess because the Hebrew phrasing isn’t clear. We can’t tell who is getting angry. But Job has been condemning the hateful and angry insults of his visitors. So, they are top of the list as contenders.

This threat is also a guess. The more literal translation would be something like this: “so, know that there’s a judgment coming.” We have to guess who’s in trouble and for what. Since Job is defending himself against these visitors, often incorrectly described as comforters, we’re guessing he’s warning the visitors that they could pay with their lives for speaking out against him in such vicious ways. On the flip side, that’s kind of what Job seems to be doing to God, blaming him for all the troubles. And in fairness to Job, God did do it in this story. But many consider this a fictional story, like a parable on steroids, teaching that we shouldn’t presume people did something to deserve tragedies in life.