Job 17:3 - “Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
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What does "Job 17:3" mean?
Job 17:3 is a cry of despair from Job, who is suffering immensely and feels completely abandoned and misunderstood. Let's break down the verse:
"Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself." This is the core of the verse and is somewhat complex. Job is basically asking God (or perhaps any potential advocate) to act as a guarantor for him. He wants someone to vouch for his integrity, even though he is currently accused of great sin by his friends.
"Give a pledge": A pledge is a promise or guarantee, often backed by something of value. Job wants assurance.
"Be collateral for me with yourself": This is where it gets tricky. "Collateral" is something offered as security against a loan or debt. Job seems to be asking God to offer Himself as collateral on Job's behalf. It's as if Job is saying, "Guarantee my integrity, even if it means You have to take responsibility for me." He wants someone to vouch for his honesty and righteousness, even though he is in dire circumstances that seem to suggest otherwise.
"With yourself": The exact meaning of this phrase can be debated. It emphasizes that Job needs God Himself to provide the guarantee and surety. Job seems to have lost faith that anyone else will defend him, so he needs God to vouch to God for him.
"Who is there who will strike hands with me?" Striking hands was a customary gesture to seal an agreement or partnership. Job is lamenting that he has no one to stand with him, no one to support him. He is utterly alone in his suffering, and no one believes in his innocence. His friends have turned against him, and he feels that even God has abandoned him. This is an expression of his complete isolation and lack of support.
In essence, Job is doing the following:
1. Acknowledging his desperation: He feels like he needs a guarantor to validate his claims of innocence.
2. Challenging God (implicitly): He is questioning why God isn't stepping in to defend him.
3. Expressing his loneliness: He is lamenting the lack of human support and the feeling of abandonment by everyone, including God.
In summary, Job 17:3 is a powerful expression of Job's feelings of abandonment, desperation, and longing for validation. He feels that only God can offer the guarantee he needs, and he questions why no one is willing to stand by him in his suffering.
The verse is loaded with imagery of legal and commercial agreements, reflecting a world where contracts and sureties were important. The fact that Job feels the need for this kind of "guarantee" highlights the severity of his isolation and the depths of his despair. He feels as though his word is worthless and that he needs someone else to vouch for him, even to God.
Job 17:3 - “Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
What does "Job 17:3" mean?
Job 17:3 is a cry of despair from Job, who is suffering immensely and feels completely abandoned and misunderstood. Let's break down the verse:
"Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself." This is the core of the verse and is somewhat complex. Job is basically asking God (or perhaps any potential advocate) to act as a guarantor for him. He wants someone to vouch for his integrity, even though he is currently accused of great sin by his friends.
"Give a pledge": A pledge is a promise or guarantee, often backed by something of value. Job wants assurance.
"Be collateral for me with yourself": This is where it gets tricky. "Collateral" is something offered as security against a loan or debt. Job seems to be asking God to offer Himself as collateral on Job's behalf. It's as if Job is saying, "Guarantee my integrity, even if it means You have to take responsibility for me." He wants someone to vouch for his honesty and righteousness, even though he is in dire circumstances that seem to suggest otherwise.
"With yourself": The exact meaning of this phrase can be debated. It emphasizes that Job needs God Himself to provide the guarantee and surety. Job seems to have lost faith that anyone else will defend him, so he needs God to vouch to God for him.
"Who is there who will strike hands with me?" Striking hands was a customary gesture to seal an agreement or partnership. Job is lamenting that he has no one to stand with him, no one to support him. He is utterly alone in his suffering, and no one believes in his innocence. His friends have turned against him, and he feels that even God has abandoned him. This is an expression of his complete isolation and lack of support.
In essence, Job is doing the following:
1. Acknowledging his desperation: He feels like he needs a guarantor to validate his claims of innocence.
2. Challenging God (implicitly): He is questioning why God isn't stepping in to defend him.
3. Expressing his loneliness: He is lamenting the lack of human support and the feeling of abandonment by everyone, including God.
In summary, Job 17:3 is a powerful expression of Job's feelings of abandonment, desperation, and longing for validation. He feels that only God can offer the guarantee he needs, and he questions why no one is willing to stand by him in his suffering.
The verse is loaded with imagery of legal and commercial agreements, reflecting a world where contracts and sureties were important. The fact that Job feels the need for this kind of "guarantee" highlights the severity of his isolation and the depths of his despair. He feels as though his word is worthless and that he needs someone else to vouch for him, even to God.