Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,’ New Living Translation “How dare you go on persecuting me, saying, ‘It’s his own fault’? English Standard Version If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’ and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’ Berean Standard Bible If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’ Berean Literal Bible If you⁺ should say, ‘How we will pursue after him,’ and ‘The root of the matter is found with him,’ King James Bible But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? New King James Version If you should say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’— Since the root of the matter is found in me, New American Standard Bible “If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’ NASB 1995 “If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’ NASB 1977 “If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’ Legacy Standard Bible If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ ‘And the root of the matter is found in him?’ Amplified Bible “If you say, ‘How shall we [continue to] persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find [since we claim the root of these afflictions is found in him]?’ Berean Annotated Bible If you⁺ say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him [with me], Christian Standard Bible If you say, “How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem lies with him? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible If you say, “How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem lies with him?” American Standard Version If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me; Contemporary English Version My friends, you think up ways to blame and torment me, saying I brought it on myself. English Revised Version If ye say, How we will persecute him! seeing that the root of the matter is found in me; GOD'S WORD® Translation "You say, 'We will persecute him! The root of the problem is found in him.' Good News Translation "How can we torment him?" You looked for some excuse to attack me. International Standard Version "When you're thinking about asking yourselves, 'How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem is with him?' NET Bible If you say, 'How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!' New Heart English Bible If you say, 'How we will persecute him, because the root of the matter is found in him.' Webster's Bible Translation But ye would say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’ World English Bible If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ because the root of the matter is found in me, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBut you say, Why do we pursue after him? And the root of the matter has been found in me. Berean Literal Bible If you⁺ should say, ‘How we will pursue after him,’ and ‘The root of the matter is found with him,’ Young's Literal Translation But ye say, 'Why do we pursue after him?' And the root of the matter hath been found in me. Smith's Literal Translation For ye shall say, Why shall we pursue after him and the root of the word was found in me? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him? Catholic Public Domain Version Why then do you now say: “Let us pursue him, and let us find a basis to speak against him?” New American Bible But you who say, “How shall we persecute him, seeing that the root of the matter is found in him?” New Revised Standard Version If you say, ‘How we will persecute him!’ and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him’; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor you will say, Why did we persecute him? For a good report will follow me and vindicate me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For you say: ‘why do we persecute him?’ For The Good Word has found occasion against me OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If ye say: 'How we will persecute him!' Seeing that the root of the matter is found in me; Brenton Septuagint Translation But if ye shall also say, What shall we say before him, and so find the root of the matter in him? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job: My Redeemer Lives…27I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me! 28If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’ 29then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”… Cross References If you say, Proverbs 1:10-11 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, Psalm 41:7-8 All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me: / “A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!” Psalm 64:2-4 Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity, / who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, / ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear. ‘Let us persecute him, Psalm 71:11 saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.” Psalm 35:3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.” Lamentations 3:52 Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird. since the root of the matter lies with him,’ Job 22:5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless? Mark 7:21-23 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.” Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? James 5:9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door! 1 Peter 4:4 Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Romans 14:10-12 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Treasury of Scripture But you should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Why Job 19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Psalm 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. seeing, etc. 1 Kings 14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. Jump to Previous Case Clearly Cruel Find Found How Lies Matter Persecute Pretext Pursue Root Sin TroubleJump to Next Case Clearly Cruel Find Found How Lies Matter Persecute Pretext Pursue Root Sin TroubleJob 19 1. Job, complaining of his friends' cruelty, 6. shows there is misery enough in him to feed their cruelty 21. He craves pity 23. He believes the resurrection If you say, This phrase introduces a hypothetical statement, suggesting a conversation or accusation from Job's friends. In the context of the Book of Job, Job's friends often speak to him with assumptions about his guilt and sin. This reflects the cultural and religious belief of the time that suffering was directly linked to personal sin, a view that Job consistently challenges throughout the dialogue. ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’ Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, enduring immense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it. 2. Job's Friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to offer comfort but end up accusing him of wrongdoing, suggesting that his suffering is a result of his own sin. 3. The Land of Uz The setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia. 4. God The ultimate authority and sovereign being, whose purposes and plans are beyond human understanding, as revealed throughout the Book of Job. 5. Satan The adversary who challenges Job's integrity, suggesting that Job is faithful only because of his prosperity and protection from God. Teaching Points Understanding MisjudgmentJob's friends misinterpret his suffering as a result of personal sin. We must be cautious not to judge others' circumstances without understanding God's broader purposes. The Root of the Matter The phrase "the root of the matter" suggests a deeper issue at play. In our lives, we should seek to understand the spiritual roots of our challenges rather than just the surface issues. Perseverance in Trials Job's account teaches us the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in the face of trials, trusting that God is just and merciful. Compassionate Support Unlike Job's friends, we are called to offer genuine support and compassion to those who are suffering, reflecting Christ's love and understanding. God's Sovereignty Recognize that God's ways are higher than ours, and His purposes may not always be immediately clear, but they are always for our ultimate good. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 19:28?2. How does Job 19:28 challenge us to examine our motives towards others? 3. What does Job 19:28 reveal about the power of words and intentions? 4. How can we apply Job 19:28 to promote peace in our relationships? 5. In what ways does Job 19:28 connect with Jesus' teachings on judgment? 6. How can Job 19:28 guide us in responding to false accusations today? 7. What does Job 19:28 reveal about human understanding of divine justice and suffering? 8. How does Job 19:28 challenge the belief in a benevolent God amidst suffering? 9. What historical context influences the interpretation of Job 19:28? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 19? 11. What are Gypsies and their beliefs? 12. How does faith lead to prosperity? 13. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - How can believers claim 'the Lord is faithful' if historical evidence suggests countless faithful people still suffer or face calamity? 14. How should we respond to persecution for our faith? What Does Job 19:28 Mean If you sayJob is answering his friends’ unkind assessments. By introducing the possibility of them speaking—“If you say”—he exposes their judgmental attitude. • Scripture reminds us that words reveal the heart (Matthew 12:34: “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”). • God holds every careless word accountable (Matthew 12:36). • Like Job’s friends, we can fall into presumptuous speech; James 4:11 warns, “Do not slander one another, brothers.” Let us persecute him The friends have drifted from comforters (Job 2:11) to prosecutors. Their new agenda is persecution, not restoration. • Proverbs 18:17 notes that the first story often seems right “until another comes and examines him”; Job hasn’t had that fair hearing. • Galatians 6:1 calls believers to restore the stumbling “in a spirit of gentleness,” contrasting sharply with persecution. • Jesus identifies Himself with the afflicted: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40). Persecuting Job dishonors God. since the root of the matter Job’s friends claim to have located the “root”—the underlying cause—of Job’s suffering, presuming it is hidden sin. • Yet 1 Samuel 16:7 teaches, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” • John 9:1-3 records Jesus rejecting the idea that all suffering springs from personal sin. • Romans 11:33 exclaims that God’s judgments are “unsearchable,” cautioning us against oversimplified conclusions. lies with him By placing the fault squarely on Job, the friends absolve themselves and ignore any larger spiritual realities. • 1 Peter 4:19 encourages sufferers to “entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good,” not to self-indict unless the Spirit convicts. • In Acts 28:4-6, Maltans assumed Paul was a murderer because a viper bit him; when he survived, their judgment flipped—demonstrating how unreliable human verdicts can be. • Isaiah 50:8 declares, “He who vindicates Me is near,” pointing sufferers to God, not human opinion, for ultimate assessment. summary Job 19:28 exposes the danger of hasty, self-righteous conclusions about another’s suffering. Words can shift from empathy to persecution when we claim to know hidden roots of someone’s trial. God alone sees the heart, calls us to restore gently, and reserves judgment for Himself. (28) Seeing the root of the matter.--This verse is variously understood, according as "the root of the matter" is interpreted of the cause of suffering or the essence of piety. "For ye say, How we will persecute him, and that the root of the matter is found in me." The Authorised Version takes the other view. It seems preferable to render, "For ye say, What is a persecuted man to Him (why should He persecute any man without cause?), and therefore the root of the matter (i.e., the cause of the afflictions) is, i.e., must be found in me."Verse 28. - But ye should say, Why persecute we him? rather, if ye shall say How shall we persecute him? That is to say, "If, after what I have said, ye continue bitter against me, and take counsel together as to the best way of persecuting me, then, seeing the root of the matter (i.e. the essence of piety) is found in me, be ye afraid," etc.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifכִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction you say, תֹ֭אמְרוּ (ṯō·mə·rū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘How מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what shall we persecute נִּרְדָּף־ (nir·dāp̄-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute him, ל֑וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew since the root וְשֹׁ֥רֶשׁ (wə·šō·reš) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8328: A root of the matter דָּ֝בָ֗ר (dā·ḇār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause lies נִמְצָא־ (nim·ṣā-) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present with him?’ בִֽי׃ (ḇî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew Links Job 19:28 NIVJob 19:28 NLT Job 19:28 ESV Job 19:28 NASB Job 19:28 KJV Job 19:28 BibleApps.com Job 19:28 Biblia Paralela Job 19:28 Chinese Bible Job 19:28 French Bible Job 19:28 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 19:28 If you say 'How we will persecute (Jb) |
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