Job 17:8
in Job 17The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent are stirred against the godless.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
KJV
Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
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This verse in Job 17
Commentary
9 notes on this verseUpright men shall be astonied - In several of these verses Job is supposed to speak prophetically of his future restoration, and of the good which religious society should derive from the history of his original affluence, consequent poverty and affliction, and final restoration to health, peace, and prosperity. The upright will receive the account with astonishment, and wonder at the dispensations of the Almighty; while hypocrites, false professors and the sour-headed, godly, shall be unmasked, and innocent men, whether in affliction or affluence, shall be known to be favourites of the Almighty.
This site's exposition
The upright are appalled at this
on Job 17:8-9
Between images of the grave stands one confidence, "a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger". Gill sees it returning at 23:10. Henry notes the abrupt turn, comfort for one verse before the chapter returns to darkness.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
I cannot say, in fact, that I receive mercy, which is the only privilege common to those who suffer. On the contrary, I am a laughingstock for the senseless; the righteous are frightened because of me. How can the faithful continue on his way?… "Let the faithful remain on his own way," Job says, "and let him who is pure of heart take courage." But how will a pure person keep his courage after these events happened in this manner against all hopes? Let us disregard what concerns me. How will others stand in the way of righteousness? Therefore I call you to a new judgment.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XIII · Written before 604.
proposed
Ver.
One could think that this misting of sight is against justice and this anger against innocence. So to reject this he then says, "the just will be astonished at this," as if to say: The just are rightly astonished when they see the doctrine of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Astonied - At the depth and mysteriousness of God's judgments, which fall on innocent men, while the worst of men prosper. Yet - Notwithstanding all these sufferings of good men, and the astonishment which they cause, he shall the more zealously oppose those hypocrites, who make these strange providences of God an objection to religion.
Upright men shall be astonished at this,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Sincerity is evangelical innocency, and those that are upright are said to be innocent from the great transgression, Ps. xix. (3.) They are the righteous, who walk in the way of righteousness. (4.) They have clean hands, kept clean from the gross pollutions of sin, and, when spotted with infirmities, washed with innocency, Ps. xxvi.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Upright men shall be astonished at this - At the course of events in regard to me. They will be amazed that God has suffered a holy man to be plunged into such calamities, and to be treated in this manner by his friends. The fact at which he supposes they would be so much astonished was, that the good were afflicted in this manner, and that no relief was furnished. And the innocent shall stir up himself - Shall rouse himself, or assume vigor to resist the wicked. The hypocrite - The wicked - alluding probably to his professed friends. The idea of hypocrisy which the sentence conveys arises from the fact, that they professed to be “his” friends, and had proved to be false; and that they had professed to be the friends of God, and yet had uttered sentiments inconsistent with any right views of him. He now says, that that could not go unnoticed. The world would be aroused at so remarkable a state of things, and a just public indignation would be the result.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָשֹׁ֣מּוּ | yashomu | they are appalled | H8074 → | 86 times |
| יְשָׁרִ֣ים | yesharim | upright [people] | H3477 → | 119 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| זֹ֑את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| וְ֝נָקִ֗י | venaki | and [the] innocent | H5355 → | 43 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| חָנֵ֥ף | chanef | [the] godless | H2611 → | 13 times |
| יִתְעֹרָֽר׃ | yitorar | he will rouse himself | H5782 → | 80 times |
יָשֹׁ֣מּוּthey are appalled
yashomuH8074 →86 times
יְשָׁרִ֣יםupright [people]
yesharimH3477 →119 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
זֹ֑אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
וְ֝נָקִ֗יand [the] innocent
venakiH5355 →43 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
חָנֵ֥ף[the] godless
chanefH2611 →13 times
יִתְעֹרָֽר׃he will rouse himself
yitorarH5782 →80 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
it leads to
- Job 11:7–9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 5:9
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
- Psalms 92:5
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
- Colossians 2:2–3
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
- Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Job 11:7–9
Through
Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we…
it leads to
- Acts 28:28
Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
- Acts 28:28
Through
Habakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than…
it leads to
- Psalms 5:4–5
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.
- Psalms 34:15–16
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- Psalms 5:4–5
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIII; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 17:8A-9B; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.