Job 17:15

KJV

And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

KJV (with Strong's)

And where is now {H645} my hope {H8615}? as for my hope {H8615}, who shall see {H7789} it?

Complete Jewish Bible

then where is my hope? And that hope of mine, who will see it?

Berean Standard Bible

where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?

American Standard Version

Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 17:15 encapsulates Job's profound descent into despair, articulating a complete erosion of his future prospects and the very concept of hope. Amidst relentless suffering, physical decay, and the unhelpful accusations of his friends, Job reaches a critical juncture where he perceives his hope not merely as diminished, but as utterly vanished and invisible, even to external observers. This verse serves as a raw, honest outcry from a righteous man grappling with seemingly insurmountable anguish, questioning the very existence of any positive future.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 17:15 is situated within Job's lament, specifically following his response to Bildad's second speech, marking a point where the traditional cycles of debate between Job and his friends have largely broken down. In the preceding verses of [Job 17](/job/17 "Job 17 - Job's Lament and Plea"), Job has described his physical decay ("My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow," [Job 17:7](/job/17-7 "Job 17:7 - Job's Dimmed Eye")), the failure of his friends to offer true comfort, and his increasing certainty that the grave is his only immediate prospect. He feels abandoned by God and misunderstood by those around him, leading to a deep sense of isolation. This verse intensifies his earlier expressions of anguish, pushing beyond general lament to a direct interrogation of the very possibility of a future, highlighting his profound sense of abandonment and the perceived futility of his existence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, suffering was often directly correlated with sin, a theological framework espoused by Job's friends. Their insistence that Job must have sinned to deserve such calamity only compounded his misery. Job, however, maintained his innocence, challenging this conventional wisdom. The concept of "hope" (תִּקְוָה, *tiqvâh*) in this context often implied a tangible expectation of well-being, prosperity, and a long life, frequently seen as divine blessings. For Job, a man who had enjoyed all these, their sudden and complete removal, coupled with the absence of a clear explanation or divine intervention, shattered his cultural understanding of justice and hope. His lament reflects the profound shock and disorientation of a righteous man whose world has been turned upside down, with no visible path to restoration or vindication, challenging the conventional wisdom of his time.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **profound despair** that can afflict even the most righteous individuals, challenging simplistic notions of faith as a perpetual state of joy. Secondly, it underscores the **nature of hope in suffering**, revealing how deeply suffering can erode one's future outlook and sense of purpose. Job's rhetorical questions ("where is now my hope?" and "who shall see it?") emphasize not just a diminished hope, but a complete **loss of vision for the future**. Thirdly, it speaks to the theme of **isolation and misunderstanding**, as Job feels his plight is not only unseen by God but also incomprehensible to his human companions, further deepening his sense of abandonment. This contrasts sharply with the initial expressions of faith found in [Job 1](/job/1 "Job 1 - Job's Character and Initial Trials"), where Job famously declared, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" ([Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Declaration of Faith")), demonstrating a dramatic shift in his perspective.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hope (Hebrew, _tiqvâh'_):** From H8615, meaning literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy; expectation(-ted), hope, live, thing that I long for. This word (תִּקְוָה) carries a rich semantic range, denoting not merely a wish but a strong expectation, a "cord" or "line" that one holds onto, suggesting an anchor or connection to the future. Its repetition in the verse ("my hope... as for my hope") underscores its central importance and Job's acute awareness of its vanishing. For Job, the very "cord" connecting him to any positive future expectation has been severed or has simply disappeared.
* **see (Hebrew, _shûwr'_):** From H7789, a primitive root (identical with through the idea of going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for; behold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see. In the context of "who shall see it?", it implies not just physical sight but the ability to discern, comprehend, or even witness the existence of this hope. Job is not only saying he cannot perceive his own hope, but he questions if anyone else can, highlighting his profound isolation and the utter non-existence of any visible future prospect.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And where [is] now my hope?":** This rhetorical question is a raw cry of utter bewilderment and despair. The adverb "now" (אֵפוֹא, *ʼêphow*) emphasizes the immediate, present absence of hope. It's not a philosophical inquiry but an anguished expression of a lived reality – hope has vanished from his current experience. Job is not asking for directions to hope; he is declaring its non-existence in his life, underscoring the depth of his present anguish.
* **"as for my hope, who shall see it?":** The repetition of "my hope" (תִּקְוָתִי, *tiqwātī*) intensifies the focus on this lost commodity. The subsequent question, "who shall see it?", extends the despair beyond Job's personal perception. It suggests that his hope is not merely hidden from him, but it is so utterly gone that no one, not even an external observer, could possibly discern or witness its presence. This reinforces his profound sense of isolation and the complete desolation of his future outlook, implying a finality to his despair.

#### Literary Devices
Job 17:15 powerfully employs several literary devices to convey Job's profound anguish. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?" These are not questions seeking answers but rather emphatic declarations of Job's conviction that hope is entirely absent from his life. The strategic use of **Repetition** ("my hope" appears twice) serves to emphasize the object of his despair, underscoring the central role that hope once played in his life and the agony of its loss. This repetition also contributes to the pervasive **Pathos** of the verse, evoking a deep sense of pity and sorrow for Job's plight. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Irony** in a righteous man, who has lived blamelessly, being reduced to such a state of hopelessness, challenging the conventional wisdom of his time regarding divine justice and the prosperity of the righteous.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 17:15 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of human suffering and the resilience, or fragility, of hope. It validates the raw, honest expression of despair, even for those who are righteous before God. The verse forces us to grapple with the reality that faith does not always preclude seasons of profound hopelessness. While Job's immediate experience is one of utter desolation, the broader biblical narrative often presents hope as an anchor, not dependent on present circumstances but on God's unchanging character and promises. This tension between felt despair and theological truth is a recurring theme in Scripture, reminding us that God's work often unfolds beyond our immediate perception, even when our own hope seems to vanish.

* [Psalm 42:11](/psalms/42-11 "Psalm 42:11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")
* [Lamentations 3:21-26](/lamentations/3-21-26 "Lamentations 3:21-26 - The Lord's Mercies Never End")
* [Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - Hope Does Not Put Us to Shame")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 17:15 offers a crucial validation for the human experience of profound despair. It reminds us that even the most devout individuals can reach a point where hope seems utterly extinguished, where the future appears bleak and the present unbearable. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep empathy for those who suffer, recognizing that their "hope" might be invisible to them and to us, and that simplistic answers or theological platitudes are rarely helpful. Instead, it invites us to sit with the pain, to acknowledge the raw honesty of lament, and to trust that even in the deepest valleys, God's presence, though unseen, remains. It challenges us to understand that true faith is not the absence of doubt or despair, but the willingness to continue to cry out to God even when all visible hope is gone, trusting in a sovereignty that transcends our immediate understanding and often unfolds in ways we cannot immediately perceive.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw expression of despair in this verse resonate with your own experiences of suffering or hopelessness?**
* **In what ways might our cultural or theological frameworks sometimes prevent us from acknowledging or validating the legitimate despair of others (or ourselves)?**
* **If hope is a "cord" connecting us to the future, what are the things you tend to hold onto for hope, and how might they compare to the hope offered in God's unchanging character?**
* **What does Job's journey, particularly this moment of profound questioning, teach us about the nature of faith that endures beyond immediate feelings or circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Is it permissible for a person of faith to feel utterly hopeless, as Job does here?**

Answer: Yes, absolutely. Job's experience in [Job 17:15](/job/17-15 "Job 17:15 - Job's Question of Hope") powerfully validates the reality of profound despair, even for the righteous. The Bible, particularly the Psalms of lament (e.g., [Psalm 88](/psalms/88 "Psalm 88 - A Psalm of Utter Despair")), provides numerous examples of godly individuals expressing deep anguish, doubt, and a sense of abandonment by God. These passages teach us that faith is not the absence of struggle or negative emotions, but often the willingness to bring those raw feelings honestly before God. Job's despair is not presented as a moral failing but as a genuine human response to overwhelming, inexplicable suffering. His journey ultimately shows that even when hope is invisible to us, God's sovereign plan continues to unfold, and He remains faithful, often working in ways that transcend our immediate understanding or perception.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's agonizing question, "And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?", finds its ultimate answer and transformation in Jesus Christ. Job's despair echoes the deepest human cry for meaning and vindication in suffering, a cry that humanity could not answer. However, the true "cord" of hope, the anchor for the soul, is revealed in the person and work of Christ. On the cross, Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, experienced the ultimate abandonment and despair, crying out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). He took upon Himself the hopelessness and sin of the world, entering into the very depths of human suffering and separation from God. Yet, through His resurrection, death was conquered, and a living hope was inaugurated. The hope that Job could not see, the future he could not perceive, is now made manifest in Christ's victory over sin and death ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope Through Resurrection")). He is the "hope of glory" ([Colossians 1:27](/colossians/1-27 "Colossians 1:27 - Christ in You, the Hope of Glory")), the one who ensures that those who are in Him will never be put to shame ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - Hope Does Not Put Us to Shame")). Thus, Job's desperate query points us to the Lamb of God, who, through His own suffering, became the visible, enduring, and eternal hope for all who believe, fulfilling the deepest longings of the human heart for vindication and ultimate restoration.

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

Job 13:15

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 19:10

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

Job 6:11

What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?

Job 4:6

[Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Job 7:6

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.