Job 17:3
New International Version
“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?

New Living Translation
“You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me.

English Standard Version
“Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?

Berean Standard Bible
Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

King James Bible
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

New King James Version
“Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself. Who is he who will shake hands with me?

New American Standard Bible
“Make a pledge for me with Yourself; Who is there that will be my guarantor?

NASB 1995
“Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself; Who is there that will be my guarantor?

NASB 1977
“Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Thyself; Who is there that will be my guarantor?

Legacy Standard Bible
“Establish, now, a pledge for me with Yourself; Who is there that will clap my hand in pledge?

Amplified Bible
“Give me a pledge (guarantee, promise) with Yourself [acknowledge my innocence before my death]; Who is there that will be my guarantor and give security for me?

Christian Standard Bible
Accept my pledge! Put up security for me. Who else will be my sponsor?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Make arrangements! Put up security for me. Who else will be my sponsor?

American Standard Version
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?

Contemporary English Version
If you, LORD, don't help, who will pay the price for my release?

English Revised Version
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; who is there that will strike hands with me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Please guarantee my bail yourself. Who else will guarantee it with a handshake?

Good News Translation
I am being honest, God. Accept my word. There is no one else to support what I say.

International Standard Version
Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf. Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?

Majority Standard Bible
Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

NET Bible
Make then my pledge with you. Who else will put up security for me?

New Heart English Bible
"Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

World English Bible
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Now place my pledge with You; Who is he that strikes hand with me?

Young's Literal Translation
Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?

Smith's Literal Translation
Set up now, pledge me with thee: who is he will strike for my hand?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man's hand fight against me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Free me, O Lord, and set me beside you, and let the hand of anyone you wish fight against me.

New American Bible
Put up a pledge for me with you: who is there to give surety for me?

New Revised Standard Version
“Lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who is there that will give surety for me?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Make me, I pray thee, a hostage with thee; then I will surrender myself.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Set now my tent with you! Why is this entrusted into my hands?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; Who else is there that will strike hands with me?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Who is this? let him join hands with me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Prepares for Death
2Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion. 3Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor? 4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.…

Cross References
Job 16:19-21
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. / My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God. / Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

Job 9:33
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

Job 19:25-27
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. / Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. / I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!

Job 31:35
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

Isaiah 50:8
The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!

Psalm 119:122
Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, / if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, / then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. ...

Isaiah 41:21
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.

Psalm 119:154
Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.

Isaiah 43:26
Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.

Hebrews 7:22
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Romans 8:34
Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.


Treasury of Scripture

Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?

put me

Job 9:33
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Genesis 43:9
I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

Genesis 44:32
For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

strike

Proverbs 6:11
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 11:15
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Proverbs 17:18
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

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Collateral Demand Guarantor Hand Hands Lay Pleased Pledge Responsible Security Strike Striketh Surety Thyself
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Job 17
1. Job appeals from men to God
6. The unmerciful dealing of men with the afflicted may astonish,
9. but not discourage the righteous
11. His hope is not in life, but in death














Give me, O God
This phrase is a direct appeal to God, reflecting Job's deep yearning for divine intervention. The Hebrew word for "give" is "שִׂים" (sim), which can also mean "set" or "appoint." This suggests Job's desire for God to establish something firm and unchangeable in his life amidst the chaos. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of seeking divine assurance in times of distress, emphasizing Job's unwavering faith in God's ultimate authority and justice.

the pledge You demand
The term "pledge" in Hebrew is "עָרַב" (arab), which refers to a security or guarantee. In the context of ancient legal practices, a pledge was a binding agreement, often involving collateral. Job is asking God for a tangible assurance of his vindication. This reflects the cultural and legal customs of the time, where pledges were crucial in maintaining trust and accountability. Spiritually, it underscores Job's trust in God's righteousness and his hope for a divine guarantee of his integrity.

Who else will be my guarantor?
The word "guarantor" in Hebrew is "עָרֵב" (arev), closely related to the word for pledge. It signifies someone who takes responsibility for another's obligations. Job's rhetorical question highlights his isolation and the absence of any human advocate. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as the ultimate guarantor of justice and righteousness. In a conservative Christian perspective, this foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Christ as the believer's advocate and guarantor before God, emphasizing the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.

(3) Lay down now . . .--i.e., Give now a pledge; be surety for me with Thyself. He has declared that he has a witness in the heavens, but he desires some present token of the vindication to come of which he is confident, and so he asks God to give him such a pledge. This is virtually the same prayer that we find Hezekiah using (Isaiah 38:14): "O Lord, I am oppressed: undertake for me," that is, "Be surety for me." (See also Psalm 119:122 : "Be surety for thy servant for good.") There is that in man which demands exact and rigorous fulfilment or expiation of non-fulfilment. Job felt that his only hope of this fulfilment or expiation of non-fulfilment lay with God Himself: that same God who had put this sense of obligation within him; therefore he says, Be surety for me with Thyself." He longed for the daysman who should lay his hand upon both him and God; he now longs for that surety with God that God alone can give. The surety must be Divine if his witness is in the heavens; it must be the witness of God to God himself. In this wonderful way does the language of Job fit in with all that we have since and elsewhere learnt of the persons in the Godhead.

Who is he that will strike hands with me?--This was the method of becoming surety; but he knows that there is no one among his friends who will do this, or that could do it if he would. (Comp. Psalm 49:7.)

Verse 3. - Lay down now; or, give now a pledge (see the Revised Version). The terms used in this verse are law terms. Job calls upon God to go into court with him, and, first of all, to deposit the caution-money which the court will require before it undertakes the investigation of the case. Next, he goes on to say, put me in a surety with thee; or rather (as in the Revised Version), be surety for me with thyself which is either the same thing with giving a pledge, or a further legal requirement. Finally, he asks the question, Who is he that will strike hands with me? meaning, "Who else is there but thyself, to whom I can look to be my surety, and by striking hands (comp. Proverbs 6:1) with me to accept the legal responsibility?" As Dr. Stanley Leathes says, "It is wonderful the way in which the language of Job fits in with what we have since and elsewhere learnt concerning the Persons in the Godhead."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Give [me],
שִֽׂימָה־ (śî·māh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

I pray,
נָּ֭א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

the pledge
עָרְבֵ֣נִי (‘ā·rə·ḇê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6148: To braid, intermix, technically, to traffic, give to be security

You [demand].
עִמָּ֑ךְ (‘im·māḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Who else
מִֽי (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will be my guarantor?
לְיָדִ֥י (lə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT Poetry: Job 17:3 Now give a pledge be collateral (Jb)
Job 17:2
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