Job 10:14

¶ If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

If I sin {H2398}, then thou markest {H8104} me, and thou wilt not acquit {H5352} me from mine iniquity {H5771}.

to watch until I would sin and then not absolve me of my guilt.

If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.

If I sin, then thou markest me, And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

Job 10:14 is a poignant cry from Job, expressing his deep despair and perception of God's relentless scrutiny and unforgiving nature during his intense suffering. It encapsulates his feeling that no matter what he does, he cannot escape divine judgment.

Context

This verse is found within one of Job's most raw and direct addresses to God, in Job chapter 10. Having endured immense loss and physical affliction, and received little comfort from his friends, Job pours out his heart, questioning God's purposes and actions. He feels hunted and relentlessly observed by God, believing that even the slightest transgression will be marked and held against him. This lament highlights Job's profound confusion and sense of injustice, as he struggles to reconcile his suffering with his understanding of a righteous God. It's part of his desperate plea for understanding and relief from what he perceives as divine oppression, a common theme in Job's earlier complaints.

Key Themes

  • Divine Scrutiny: Job feels that God is constantly watching him, not with care, but with an intent to find fault. The phrase "thou markest me" conveys a sense of being under a magnifying glass, where every action is noted for accusation.
  • Perceived Lack of Acquittal: Job believes that God will not declare him innocent or absolve him from his iniquity, regardless of how minor the transgression might be. This reflects his despair and the severe misunderstanding he has of God's character at this point in his ordeal.
  • The Burden of Guilt: Even if Job sins unintentionally or in a way he cannot discern, he feels an overwhelming burden of guilt that God will not lift. This speaks to the human struggle with sin and the longing for forgiveness.
  • God's Omniscience and Justice: While Job perceives God's omniscience as oppressive here, the verse touches on the biblical truth that God sees all things (Psalm 139:7-12). However, Job's interpretation of God's justice is skewed by his suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "thou markest me" comes from the Hebrew word shamar (שָׁמַר), which means "to watch," "to guard," or "to observe." In this context, it carries the nuance of watching intently for the purpose of finding fault or holding accountable. Job feels God is not merely observing, but meticulously cataloging his missteps. The phrase "acquit me" is from the Hebrew naqah (נָקָה), meaning "to be clean," "to be innocent," or "to be free from punishment." Job's lament is that God will not clear him or declare him guiltless, emphasizing his profound sense of being condemned.

Practical Application

Job 10:14 offers a window into the human experience of feeling overwhelmed by perceived judgment, especially during times of intense suffering or confusion. It reminds us:

  • Our Perception of God Can Be Skewed by Suffering: Like Job, we can misunderstand God's character when we are in pain. God's ultimate desire is not merely to condemn but to offer forgiveness to those who confess their sins and to refine us through trials (Job 23:10).
  • Honest Lament is Permitted: Job's raw honesty in expressing his feelings to God, even his accusations, serves as a model for authentic prayer. God can handle our doubts and despair.
  • God's Mercy Triumphs: While God does see all sin, the New Testament reveals His vast mercy and grace, offering redemption through Christ. Job's understanding of God's justice would eventually expand as his story concluded with restoration and a deeper knowledge of God's ways (Job 42:5).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 7:21

    And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].

  • Psalms 130:3

    If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

  • Exodus 34:7

    Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

  • Psalms 139:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

  • Job 13:26

    For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

  • Job 13:27

    Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

  • Numbers 14:18

    The LORD [is] longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation].
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