Job 19:28 - If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me,

Generated Verse: Job 19:28

What does "Job 19:28" mean?


Job 19:28 is a difficult verse with varying interpretations. Here's a breakdown of the possible meanings and the challenges in understanding it:

The Text:

The Hebrew is somewhat ambiguous and lends itself to multiple translations. The common English translations vary, but the key phrases remain:

"If you say, 'How we will persecute him!'" This part seems fairly clear: it's addressed to Job's friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) and suggests they are planning further attacks on him.
"because the root of the matter is found in me." This is the crux of the problem. What is the "root of the matter," and what does it mean that it's "found in me" (Job)?

Possible Interpretations:

Here are a few potential interpretations of Job 19:28, with explanations and considerations:

1. Job is a root of the matter, therefore his Friends will persecute him:
Meaning: Job is saying that his friends will continue to persecute him because they believe he is the root of his own misfortune. They think he must be guilty of some great sin, and that's why God is punishing him so severely. He's the reason for the "matter" (his suffering) so the friends will continue to persecute him by accusing him of wrongdoing.
Support: This is the most common and straightforward interpretation. It aligns with the overall narrative of the book, where Job's friends insist on a direct cause-and-effect relationship between sin and suffering.
Challenges: It can seem a bit circular.

2. Job sees truth or a 'root of the matter' in himself and he will be persecuted for it:
Meaning: Job has gained an insight, a "root of the matter," regarding his suffering and/or God's justice. He anticipates that his friends will persecute him for this insight, likely because it challenges their conventional wisdom and theological assumptions.
Support: This reading emphasizes Job's growing understanding and willingness to question traditional views, even if it means facing opposition. Job is seeing a root of the matter in himself, or perhaps even in his understanding of God that differs from his friends.
Challenges: The exact nature of this "root of the matter" is unspecified.

3. A Prophetic Statement About the Messiah:

Meaning: Some see this verse as a prophetic foreshadowing of the Messiah. "The root of the matter" would refer to the core truth of God's plan for salvation, which would be found in the Messiah. Because of this truth, the Messiah would be persecuted.
Support: This interpretation connects Job's suffering to the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53. It suggests that Job's experience prefigures the Messiah's redemptive suffering.
Challenges: This interpretation can seem forced and requires a highly allegorical reading of the text. It's not the most straightforward understanding.

The "Root of the Matter":

Regardless of which interpretation is preferred, it's important to consider what the "root of the matter" might refer to:

Job's "Sin": As interpreted by his friends, the "root of the matter" is Job's secret sin, the unseen transgression that has brought divine punishment upon him. This is the view Job rejects.
Innocent Suffering: From Job's perspective, the "root of the matter" might be the perplexing reality of innocent suffering, the fact that righteous people can endure hardship without necessarily deserving it.
God's Sovereignty and Justice: The "root of the matter" could also be a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty and justice, which is more complex and mysterious than Job's friends acknowledge.
A foreshadowing of the messiah's redemptive suffering.

In Conclusion:

Job 19:28 is a complex verse with no single, definitive interpretation. The most likely meaning is that Job is accusing his friends of intending to continue persecuting him because they believe he is the cause of his own suffering. However, other interpretations are possible, particularly those that see Job as gaining a deeper insight into his situation. The verse highlights the central themes of the book: the problem of suffering, the nature of justice, and the limits of human understanding of God. The meaning of the verse is dependent on the overall theme of the book and how one understands the story of Job's suffering.

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