Job 10:15

KJV

If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

KJV (with Strong's)

If I be wicked {H7561}, woe {H480} unto me; and if I be righteous {H6663}, yet will I not lift up {H5375} my head {H7218}. I am full {H7649} of confusion {H7036}; therefore see {H7202}{H7200} thou mine affliction {H6040};

Complete Jewish Bible

If I am wicked, woe to me! -but if righteous, I still don't dare raise my head, because I am so filled with shame, so soaked in my misery.

Berean Standard Bible

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

American Standard Version

If I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; Being filled with ignominy, And looking upon mine affliction.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 10:15 encapsulates Job's profound despair and existential crisis, where he perceives himself trapped in an inescapable predicament regardless of his moral standing. He laments that whether found guilty or innocent, he cannot escape his suffering or regain his dignity, expressing a mind overwhelmed by bewilderment and pleading with God to acknowledge his deep affliction. This verse powerfully conveys his sense of being unjustly pursued by an incomprehensible divine power, highlighting his desperate need for understanding and relief amidst his overwhelming pain.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 10:15 is situated within Job's extended and anguished response to his friends, particularly following Zophar's harsh accusations in [Job 11](/job/11 "Job 11 - Zophar's First Speech"). In chapters 9 and 10, Job grapples with the immense power and inscrutability of God, acknowledging divine sovereignty but simultaneously feeling utterly helpless and unjustly targeted. He articulates the impossibility of contending with God (as seen in [Job 9:32-33](/job/9-32 "Job 9:32-33 - No Arbitrator Between Us")) and expresses a deep longing for a fair hearing. This specific verse, [Job 10:15](/job/10-15 "Job 10:15 - Job's Lament of Despair"), serves as a climax to his lament, illustrating the no-win scenario he perceives himself to be in, where his suffering persists irrespective of his righteousness, driving him to the brink of despair and confusion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near Eastern worldview, particularly among Job's contemporaries, firmly adhered to the retribution principle: righteousness led to blessing, and wickedness to suffering. This belief system, deeply ingrained in the wisdom literature of the time, meant that Job's immense suffering was automatically interpreted by his friends as irrefutable proof of his hidden sin. Job's experience, however, fundamentally challenges this simplistic theological framework. His persistent assertion of innocence, despite his affliction, directly confronts the prevailing cultural understanding of divine justice. His lament in [Job 10](/job/10 "Job 10 - Job's Plea to God") is a cry against a system that offers no explanation for righteous suffering, placing him in a unique and profoundly isolated position within his society.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several key themes woven throughout the Book of Job. Foremost is the theme of **Profound Despair and Helplessness**, as Job feels trapped in a situation where his moral standing is irrelevant to his suffering. His inability to "lift up my head" signifies a complete loss of honor, vindication, and hope, reflecting the depths of his despondency. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Inscrutability of God's Ways**. Job's "confusion" stems from his inability to reconcile his blameless life with God's seemingly hostile treatment, challenging the traditional understanding of divine justice and emphasizing the mystery of God's sovereign actions, a theme explored throughout [Job's dialogues](/job/chapters "The Book of Job - Dialogues and Speeches"). Finally, despite his despair, the verse contains a **Desperate Plea for Understanding and Divine Intervention**. His cry, "therefore see thou mine affliction," reveals a persistent, albeit desperate, hope that God will acknowledge his pain and perhaps offer clarity or relief, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, Job continues to engage with God, as he does in his earlier lament in [Job 7:11](/job/7-11 "Job 7:11 - Job's Bitter Complaint").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **lift up my head (Hebrew, _nasa rosh_):** This idiomatic expression signifies confidence, honor, vindication, or a restored sense of dignity. In ancient cultures, bowing one's head was a sign of shame, defeat, or submission, while lifting it indicated triumph, innocence, or boldness. Job's declaration that he "will not lift up my head" even if righteous underscores his utter loss of hope for vindication or relief from his suffering, regardless of his blamelessness. It conveys a complete and crushing defeat of spirit.
* **confusion (Hebrew, _rosh_):** While _rosh_ primarily means "head," in this context, the KJV's "confusion" is an interpretive translation reflecting the state of Job's mind or spirit. It suggests a mind overwhelmed, disoriented, or poisoned by distress, bewilderment, and the incomprehensibility of his situation. This word choice emphasizes the mental and emotional torment Job endures, not just physical pain, as he grapples with the paradox of his righteousness and his suffering. It points to a profound disorientation of his understanding of God and justice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If I be wicked, woe unto me;":** Job acknowledges the conventional wisdom that wickedness leads to suffering and divine judgment. He accepts that if he were truly guilty as his friends claim, his current plight would be a just consequence, and he would deserve the "woe" (a cry of lament or judgment) that has befallen him. This clause sets up the painful paradox that follows.
* **"and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head.":** This is the core of Job's despair. He asserts his innocence ("if I be righteous"), yet immediately states that even this moral purity brings him no relief, no vindication, and no restoration of honor or confidence. His suffering is so overwhelming, and God's apparent hostility so relentless, that his righteousness offers no escape or comfort. This highlights the breakdown of the retribution principle in his experience.
* **"[I am] full of confusion;":** This phrase expresses the profound mental and emotional state of Job. He is not merely sad or in pain; his mind is disoriented, bewildered, and overwhelmed by the incomprehensibility of his situation. He cannot reconcile his blameless life with the immense suffering and divine antagonism he perceives, leading to a deep intellectual and spiritual disarray.
* **"therefore see thou mine affliction;":** Despite his despair and confusion, this is a desperate, direct plea to God. The "therefore" links his state of confusion to his request: because he is so utterly bewildered and afflicted, he begs God to take notice, to acknowledge his suffering, and perhaps to intervene or provide an explanation. It is a cry for divine recognition and compassion from one who feels utterly abandoned and misunderstood.

#### Literary Devices
Job 10:15 is rich in literary devices that amplify Job's profound anguish. The most prominent is **Paradox**, as Job presents a no-win scenario where both wickedness and righteousness lead to the same outcome of suffering and humiliation. This rhetorical strategy underscores the irrationality and injustice he perceives in his situation. The verse also functions as a powerful **Lament**, a common genre in biblical literature, expressing deep sorrow, complaint, and an appeal to God from a position of distress. Job's direct address to God ("see thou mine affliction") is a form of **Apostrophe**, lending immediacy and intensity to his plea. The phrase "will I not lift up my head" is an **Idiom**, conveying a complete loss of honor and confidence, while the declaration "I am full of confusion" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the overwhelming nature of his mental and emotional distress.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 10:15 profoundly challenges the simplistic theological framework that directly equates suffering with sin, a common belief in the ancient world and often a default assumption even today. Job's insistence on his righteousness, coupled with his deep suffering, forces a re-evaluation of divine justice and the nature of God's interaction with humanity. This verse highlights the mystery of suffering, suggesting that not all pain is punitive, and that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension. It underscores the importance of honest lament and persistent prayer even when God's actions seem contradictory or unjust, inviting believers to bring their deepest confusion and pain before the Almighty without pretense. Job's struggle here foreshadows a deeper understanding of suffering as potentially redemptive or refining, rather than solely punitive.

* [Psalm 44:23-24](/psalms/44-23 "Psalm 44:23-24 - A Cry for God's Awakening")
* [Lamentations 3:1-18](/lamentations/3-1 "Lamentations 3:1-18 - Jeremiah's Personal Lament")
* [Psalm 88:1-9](/psalms/88-1 "Psalm 88:1-9 - A Prayer of Deep Distress")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 10:15 offers a profound invitation to empathy, authenticity, and perseverance in faith. It reminds us that suffering is not always a direct consequence of personal sin, challenging us to approach those in distress with compassion rather than judgment, understanding that their pain may lead to deep confusion and despair, much like Job's. His raw honesty in expressing his feelings, even his frustration and bewilderment with God, provides a powerful model for prayer. We are invited to bring our deepest pains, questions, and even our confusion directly to God, trusting that He can handle our unvarnished emotions and that true faith does not require us to pretend to understand everything. Ultimately, while Job was full of confusion, his journey eventually leads to a deeper, more profound trust in God, even when full understanding remains elusive. This verse encourages us to persevere in faith even when life makes no sense, holding onto the hope that God sees our affliction, even when we cannot see His hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when you or someone you know experiences suffering that seems undeserved?**
* **In what ways does Job's "confusion" resonate with your own experiences of trying to reconcile God's goodness with life's difficulties?**
* **What does Job's desperate plea, "see thou mine affliction," teach us about honest prayer and lament?**
* **How can we cultivate a faith that trusts God even when we cannot understand His ways or when life feels like a "no-win" situation?**

### FAQ

**Does Job 10:15 suggest that God is unjust?**
Answer: Job 10:15 reflects Job's *perception* of God's actions as unjust from his limited human viewpoint, not an objective theological statement about God's character. Job is expressing his deep confusion and sense of being unfairly targeted, as he cannot reconcile his blameless life with his immense suffering. He is wrestling with the problem of evil and suffering, particularly the apparent breakdown of the retribution principle. The book of Job ultimately reveals that God is indeed just, but His justice and wisdom operate on a plane far beyond human comprehension, and suffering can serve purposes other than punishment for sin, as seen in [Job 40:1-5](/job/40-1 "Job 40:1-5 - Job's Humble Response").

**What does it mean to "lift up my head" in this context?**
Answer: To "lift up my head" (Hebrew: _nasa rosh_) is an ancient idiom signifying confidence, honor, vindication, or a restored sense of dignity and well-being. When Job says he cannot lift up his head even if righteous, he means that he sees no hope for vindication, no return to honor, and no escape from his crushing shame and suffering, regardless of his actual innocence. His situation is so dire that even being found "not guilty" would not alleviate his profound despair or restore his former status, highlighting the depth of his spiritual and emotional brokenness. This contrasts with instances where God promises to [lift up the heads of His people](/psalms/3-3 "Psalm 3:3 - God as a Shield and Lifter of the Head").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 10:15, with its poignant portrayal of righteous suffering and profound confusion, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job, a righteous man, endures inexplicable suffering and feels abandoned by God, unable to "lift up his head" in vindication. This foreshadows Christ, the truly innocent and righteous Son of God, who willingly endured the ultimate undeserved suffering on the cross. Like Job, Jesus experienced profound anguish and a sense of abandonment (crying out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")"), yet He was perfectly righteous. While Job could not lift his head, Christ, through His resurrection, was supremely exalted, and God "highly [exalted him](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9 - Christ's Exaltation") and gave him the name that is above every name." Job's desperate plea for God to "see thou mine affliction" is answered definitively in Christ, who not only saw our affliction but bore it Himself (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")). Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Christ became the ultimate vindication for all who are righteous in Him, enabling believers to "lift up their heads" in hope and confidence, knowing that their afflictions are seen and redeemed by the One who suffered for them and now intercedes on their behalf (as seen in [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 3:11

Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Job 9:15

Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.

Job 9:20

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 9:21

[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Psalms 25:18

Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Job 10:7

Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and [there is] none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Malachi 3:18

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.