Job 19:23, Job 19:24 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 19:23-24

Job 19:23-24. O that my words were now written! Either, 1st, All his foregoing discourses with his friends, which he was so far from disowning or being ashamed of, that he was desirous all ages should know them, that they might judge between him and them, and decide whose cause was better, and whose arguments were stronger: or, rather, 2d, The words which he was now about to speak, containing a remarkable confession of his faith. O that they were printed in a book! Or, rather, inserted, ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 19:1-29

Job’s reply to Bildad (19:1-29)Again Job rebukes his friends and rejects their assertion that his sufferings prove he must be a great sinner. Even if he has sinned, he argues, that is no concern of theirs (19:1-4). As Job sees things, he has not been wicked, but God has made it look as if he has by placing him in this humiliating situation (5-6). God has used his power against Job and Job can do nothing about it. He feels helpless (7-12). Relatives, friends and servants have all turned against... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 19:23

Oh! Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 19:23

JOB'S WORDS (ABOUT TO BE UTTERED) ARE OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE;AND HE PRAYED THAT THEY MIGHT BE REMEMBERED FOREVER"Oh that my words were now written!Oh that they were inscribed in a boomThat with an iron pen and leadThey were graven in the rock forever!"The scholars like to speculate about the kind of book Job was talking about here, but that has nothing to do with the point. These verses prove that Job was about to mention something of eternal import, words that needed to be remembered forever.... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 19:23-24

Job 19:23-24. Oh that they were printed in a book!— The sense of these words, according to the translation of Schultens, is this: "Who now will write my words? Who will record them in a book? Let them be engraven on some sepulchral stone, with an iron pen and with lead, so as to last for ever." The word rock, which our translators have made use of, seems to me to be more just than that used by Schultens. It is certain that the word צור zur, signifies in other places of the Book of Job a rock;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 19:23

23. Despairing of justice from his friends in his lifetime, he wishes his words could be preserved imperishably to posterity, attesting his hope of vindication at the resurrection. printed—not our modern printing, but engraven. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 19:1-29

4. Job’s second reply to Bildad ch. 19This speech is one of the more important ones in the book, because in it, Job reached a new low and a new high in his personal experience. He revealed here the extent of his rejection by his friends, relatives, and servants, but he also came to a new confidence in God. Bildad had spoken of the terrors of death, and now Job described the trials of life, his own life. He did so by using seven figures to describe himself: an animal trapped (Job 19:6), a... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 19:23-29

Job’s confidence in God 19:23-29"But it is just here, when everything is blackest, that his faith . . . like the rainbow in the cloud . . . shines with a marvelous splendor." [Note: W. B. MacLeod, The Afflictions of the Righteous, p. 172.] This short section contains probably the best-known verses in the book (Job 19:23-27). They are an affirmation of Job’s great faith in God. One writer argued that Job was not expressing hope but despair because he believed God could vindicate him but would... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 19:1-29

Job’s Fifth SpeechIn this speech Job repeats his bitter complaints of God’s injustice, and man’s contemptuous abandonment of one formerly so loved and honoured. He appeals in broken utterances to his friends to pity him; then from them he would fain appeal to posterity, wishing that he might engrave in the rock a declaration of his innocence, sure that those who read it in the after-time would feel the ring of sincerity and exonerate him of guilt. But, baffled by the callous unbelief of his... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 19:23

(23) Oh that my words were now written!—Some understand this to refer to the words he is about to utter; by others they are interpreted generally. The former view is probably owing to the Christian acceptation given to them, and the consequently great importance attaching to them. Since, however, the three verses, Job 19:25-27, are manifestly more emphatic than any he has yet spoken, though they do not stand quite alone, there is no reason why it should not be especially these very words which... read more