Job 13:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

For thou writest {H3789} bitter things {H4846} against me, and makest me to possess {H3423} the iniquities {H5771} of my youth {H5271}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Is this why you draw up bitter charges against me and punish me for the faults of my youth?

Berean Standard Bible

For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

American Standard Version

For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 13:26 encapsulates Job's profound anguish and desperate plea to God, whom he perceives as his adversary. In this verse, Job laments that God is not only inscribing harsh and painful decrees against him but is also making him bear the full, crushing weight of sins committed in his youth. This cry reveals Job's struggle to reconcile his understanding of a just God with the overwhelming and seemingly unmerited suffering he endures, believing his current afflictions are a disproportionate punishment for past transgressions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 13:26 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically his direct address to God, following the accusations and inadequate counsel of his three friends. Having exhausted his arguments with them, Job turns his attention directly to the Almighty, asserting his innocence and demanding a fair hearing. This verse immediately follows Job's bold declaration of faith and trust in God, even in the face of death, as expressed in [Job 13:15](/job/13-15 "Job 13:15 - Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him"). His lament here underscores the deep tension between his unwavering faith and his raw, honest questioning of God's justice in his personal experience. He desires a direct encounter with God, not continued, unexplained suffering, and seeks to present his case before his divine accuser.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job challenges the prevailing ancient Near Eastern (ANE) retribution theology, which posited a direct, mechanistic correlation between sin and suffering. According to this widespread view, suffering was always a direct consequence of personal sin, and prosperity was a sign of righteousness. Job's friends vehemently uphold this doctrine, insisting that Job's catastrophic losses must be due to some grievous, hidden sin. Job 13:26 reflects Job's internalizing of this cultural framework to some extent, as he grapples with the idea that God might be "dredging up" past sins to justify his present agony. The concept of God "writing" or "decreeing" judgments was also common in the ancient world, implying a formal, unchangeable verdict, often associated with legal or divine pronouncements.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several central themes within the book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the **problem of undeserved suffering**, as Job, described as "blameless and upright" in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Character"), cannot comprehend the intensity of his pain. It underscores the theme of **divine justice questioned**, as Job directly challenges God's fairness and perceives Him as an adversary rather than a benevolent sovereign, a stark contrast to the divine wisdom presented later in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - The Lord's Speeches to Job"). Furthermore, it touches upon the **burden of past sins** and the human fear that forgotten transgressions might be brought to account, even if disproportionately, by a holy God. This lament also exemplifies the biblical theme of **honest lament and protest** before God, demonstrating that faith does not preclude expressing profound doubt, pain, and even accusation to the Almighty, a practice seen throughout the Psalms, such as [Psalm 77](/psalms/77 "Psalm 77 - A Psalm of Anguish and Remembrance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **writest (Hebrew, _kâthab'_):** From the primitive root H3789, meaning "to grave," "to write," "to inscribe," "to prescribe," or "to record." In this context, Job perceives God not merely as inflicting pain but as meticulously and formally documenting a case against him, as if composing a legal indictment or a decree of condemnation. This implies a deliberate, calculated, and authoritative action on God's part, making Job's suffering feel like a pre-meditated judgment.
* **bitter things (Hebrew, _mᵉrôrâh'_):** From H4846, properly meaning "bitterness," "a bitter thing," "gall," or "venom." Used in the plural here, it refers to decrees or experiences that are not just severe but are deeply painful, noxious, and difficult to endure. It conveys a qualitative assessment of the suffering—it is profoundly and agonizingly bitter, like a poison permeating his existence, causing deep physical and emotional anguish.
* **makest me to possess (Hebrew, _yârash'_):** From the primitive root H3423, meaning "to occupy," "to seize," "to inherit," or "to take possession of." Here, in the Hiphil causative stem, it means "to cause to inherit" or "to cause to possess." Job feels he is being forced to fully experience, bear the consequences of, or take ownership of the "iniquities of his youth" as if they are an unavoidable inheritance of suffering. It implies a complete and inescapable reception of the penalty for past wrongs.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thou writest bitter things against me":** Job expresses his perception of God's actions as a formal, deliberate act of judgment. He feels God is not merely allowing suffering but is actively authoring and inscribing decrees of intense bitterness and pain directly against him. This suggests a legalistic framework where God is the prosecuting attorney, meticulously documenting Job's perceived offenses and the corresponding harsh penalties. The "bitter things" are the painful realities of his affliction, interpreted by Job as direct divine judgments.
* **"and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth":** This clause reveals Job's specific fear: that his current, overwhelming suffering is a direct, disproportionate consequence of sins committed in his early life. He feels God is forcing him to "inherit" or fully experience the punitive outcome of these past, perhaps forgotten, transgressions. The phrase "iniquities of my youth" highlights the human tendency to carry guilt from past mistakes and the fear that even minor or long-past sins might be brought to account by a righteous God at a later, more painful time, especially when present suffering seems inexplicable in light of one's current righteousness.

#### Literary Devices
Job 13:26 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's profound despair and his perception of God's actions. **Personification** is evident as Job attributes the human action of "writing" to God, depicting Him as a meticulous scribe or judge recording an indictment. This reinforces the idea of a formal, deliberate condemnation. **Metaphor** is used in the phrase "bitter things," where the abstract concept of harsh judgments or decrees is equated with something physically bitter or poisonous, emphasizing their painful and destructive nature. The verse also contains elements of **hyperbole**, as Job's language reflects an exaggerated sense of divine persecution, common in intense lament. He feels his suffering is not just severe, but a direct, targeted, and disproportionate punishment. This raw, emotional expression of his plight is characteristic of a **lament**, a common biblical genre for expressing grief and complaint to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 13:26 encapsulates the core theological struggle of the book of Job: the problem of suffering and the nature of divine justice. Job's lament reflects a common human tendency to connect suffering directly to sin, yet the book ultimately challenges this simplistic retribution theology. While sin does bring consequences, not all suffering is punitive, and God's ways are often beyond human comprehension, as articulated in [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways"). This verse also highlights the profound burden of guilt from past sins, a universal human experience. However, the broader biblical narrative, especially the New Covenant, offers a profound contrast to Job's fear, revealing a God who, through Christ, offers complete forgiveness and remembrance of sins no more, liberating believers from the fear of past transgressions being "dug up" for future punishment.

* [Psalm 25:7](/psalms/25-7 "Psalm 25:7 - Do Not Remember the Sins of My Youth")
* [Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - I Will Remember Their Sin No More")
* [Lamentations 3:19-20](/lamentations/3-19-20 "Lamentations 3:19-20 - Remembering My Affliction and Bitterness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's raw lament in Job 13:26 resonates deeply with the human experience of inexplicable suffering and the haunting burden of past mistakes. It reminds us that authentic faith does not require us to suppress our pain or questions; rather, it invites us to bring our deepest doubts and accusations honestly before God, knowing He can handle our lament. While Job feared God was meticulously recording and punishing his youthful indiscretions, the Gospel reveals a God who, in Christ, has dealt decisively with sin and offers profound grace. This verse challenges us to examine our own assumptions about suffering and divine justice, encouraging us to trust God's character even when His ways are inscrutable and His purposes hidden. It also prompts us to find comfort in the New Covenant promise that our sins, especially those of our youth, are remembered no more when we are in Christ, freeing us from the fear of being made to "possess" their bitter consequences.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when you feel God is treating you unjustly or when suffering seems disproportionate to your actions?**
* **What "iniquities of your youth" (or past) might still burden you, and how does the Gospel's message of forgiveness address those fears?**
* **In what ways can honest lament, even with accusations, be a healthy part of your relationship with God?**

### FAQ

**Why does Job accuse God of "writing bitter things" against him?**

Answer: Job's accusation stems from his perception that God is actively inflicting extreme suffering upon him, which he interprets as a formal, deliberate, and harsh judgment. In his profound agony, Job sees God not as a benevolent comforter but as a meticulous prosecutor, meticulously inscribing a decree of bitter punishment against him. This language reflects the intensity of his physical and emotional pain, which feels like a direct, targeted assault from God, rather than a random misfortune or a test. He believes God is holding him accountable for past sins in a way that is disproportionate to his current righteousness, leading him to question God's justice and mercy in his specific situation, as he does throughout [Job 13](/job/13 "Job 13 - Job's Appeal to God").

**Does God punish people for "iniquities of their youth" later in life in the way Job feared?**

Answer: While the Old Testament, particularly within the framework of the Mosaic Covenant, often linked sin to consequences (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience")), the book of Job itself challenges the simplistic, mechanistic view that all suffering is a direct punishment for specific sins. The New Testament profoundly clarifies God's character and His dealings with sin. Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, believers are declared righteous, and their sins, including those of their youth, are forgiven and "remembered no more" ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God Remembers Their Sins No More")). While natural consequences for past actions can occur, God does not "dredge up" forgiven sins to inflict new, disproportionate suffering on His redeemed children. Instead, He offers grace, healing, and restoration, as illustrated in passages like [Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus").

**Is it acceptable for believers to question or lament to God with such raw honesty, even accusation, as Job did?**

Answer: Yes, the book of Job, along with many Psalms of lament (e.g., [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Lament") and [Psalm 44](/psalms/44 "Psalm 44 - A Lament and Plea for Deliverance")), affirms that honest lament and even questioning God are permissible and can be a vital part of a genuine faith relationship. Job's integrity is highlighted precisely because he continues to address God directly, even in his accusations, rather than turning away in despair or bitterness. God can handle our deepest doubts, frustrations, and pain. These laments often express a profound desire for God's justice and presence, even when His actions are inscrutable. It demonstrates a trust that God is real, present, and capable of hearing and responding to our deepest cries, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding and renewed faith, as seen in Job's eventual restoration in [Job 42](/job/42 "Job 42 - Job's Restoration").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's lament in [Job 13:26](/job/13-26 "Job 13:26 - Job's Lament to God") finds its ultimate resolution and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job feared that God was "writing bitter things" against him and forcing him to "possess the iniquities of his youth." Yet, in Christ, God Himself took on the bitter cup of judgment and possessed the full weight of humanity's iniquities—not just those of youth, but all sin. Jesus, who "knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). On the cross, Christ perfectly fulfilled the demands of divine justice, enduring the ultimate "bitter thing" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")) and bearing the full consequences of our rebellion ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - Christ Bore Our Iniquities")). Through His sacrifice, the "handwriting of ordinances that was against us" was canceled and nailed to the cross ([Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Cancellation of the Debt")). Therefore, for those in Christ, the fear of God dredging up forgotten sins is replaced by the glorious promise of the New Covenant: "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "God Remembers Sins No More")). Job's cry for a just God who would not punish disproportionately is answered in the Lamb of God, who bore all our punishment so that we might receive eternal grace and freedom from condemnation, ushering us into a new covenant of mercy and peace ([Romans 5:1](/romans/5-1 "Romans 5:1 - Peace with God Through Faith")).

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

Psalms 25:7

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Proverbs 5:11

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

Proverbs 5:13

And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

John 5:14

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

John 5:5

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

Psalms 88:3

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Psalms 88:18

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, [and] mine acquaintance into darkness.