Job 19:16

KJV

I called my servant, and he gave [me] no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

KJV (with Strong's)

I called {H7121} my servant {H5650}, and he gave me no answer {H6030}; I intreated {H2603} him with {H1119} my mouth {H6310}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I call my servant, and he doesn't answer, even if I beg him for a favor!

Berean Standard Bible

I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.

American Standard Version

I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, ThoughI entreat him with my mouth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 19:16 captures the profound depth of Job's suffering, illustrating his complete social degradation and isolation. Stripped of his wealth, health, and family, Job now experiences the ultimate indignity: the refusal of even his own servant to acknowledge his call, forcing him to beg for attention. This poignant detail underscores the pervasive nature of his affliction, highlighting not only physical and material loss but also the crushing emotional and relational abandonment he endures, leaving him utterly alone in his despair.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Job's third discourse (chapters 19-21), a powerful and emotionally charged response to the relentless accusations of his friends. Having been condemned by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar as a sinner deserving of divine punishment, Job vehemently defends his innocence and laments the injustice of his plight. Chapter 19, in particular, is a crescendo of Job's anguish, where he feels forsaken by God ([Job 19:6](/job/19-6 "Job 19:6 - God's perceived injustice")), alienated from his family and closest companions ([Job 19:13-15](/job/19-13 "Job 19:13-15 - Job's family and friends abandon him")), and even scorned by children ([Job 19:18](/job/19-18 "Job 19:18 - Children despise Job")). The complaint about his servant in [Job 19:16](/job/19-16 "Job 19:16 - Job's servant ignores him") serves as a devastating final blow in this litany of abandonment, demonstrating the absolute completeness of his social and relational collapse.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, the relationship between a master and his servants was foundational to the social order. Servants, often part of an extended household, were typically bound by duty, loyalty, and a clear hierarchy of command. A master's word was law within his domain, and immediate obedience was expected. To be ignored or defied by one's own servant was not merely an inconvenience but a profound public humiliation, signifying a complete loss of authority, respect, and social standing. This was particularly true for someone of Job's former stature, described in [Job 1:3](/job/1-3 "Job 1:3 - Job's Great Wealth and Standing") as "the greatest of all the people of the east," possessing vast wealth and numerous servants. His current state, where even a servant ignores him, starkly contrasts with his former esteemed position, amplifying the depth of his fall.
* **Key Themes:** Job 19:16 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job. It underscores the theme of **Profound Isolation and Abandonment**, depicting Job's suffering not merely as physical or material, but as a deep, soul-crushing relational void that extends even to his household. This verse also highlights the **Loss of Dignity and Authority**, as Job, once a man of immense power and respect, is reduced to begging for attention from those who should serve him. This reversal of roles emphasizes the **Fragility of Human Status** and the transient nature of earthly power. Furthermore, it subtly points to the theme of **Unjust Suffering**, as Job's complete social degradation appears utterly undeserved, challenging the conventional wisdom of his friends and prompting a deeper theological inquiry into the nature of divine justice.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **intreated (Hebrew, _wā’etḥannen'_):** This word is derived from the root *ḥanan* (חָנַן), which broadly means "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to have pity." In its reflexive or intensive forms, as used here (Hithpael), it signifies "to plead for mercy," "to implore," or "to beg for favor." The choice of this verb is profoundly significant. Instead of merely stating that his servant did not answer, Job emphasizes that he was forced to *plead* with him. This is a shocking reversal of roles for a man of Job's former standing, who would typically command, not entreat, his servants. It vividly conveys the depth of his humiliation and the complete erosion of his authority and dignity, forcing him into a position of abject helplessness and dependency even within his own home.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I called my servant":** This initial clause establishes Job's attempt to exercise a fundamental right and expectation of a master in his household. It implies a need for assistance, comfort, or simply acknowledgment, highlighting his desperate state. The act of calling suggests a final vestige of his former authority, now tragically undermined.
* **"and he gave [me] no answer":** This is the devastating outcome. The servant's refusal to respond is not merely an oversight but a deliberate act of disrespect and disregard. It signifies a complete breakdown of the master-servant relationship, demonstrating that Job's commands hold no sway, and his very presence is ignored. This silence amplifies Job's isolation, confirming that even those closest to him, bound by duty, have abandoned him.
* **"I intreated him with my mouth":** This final clause reveals the ultimate indignity. Job is reduced to pleading, using his mouth to beg for what he once commanded. The phrase "with my mouth" emphasizes the verbal, personal nature of this humiliating appeal. It underscores his utter powerlessness and desperation, showcasing the complete erosion of his social standing and personal dignity, as he is forced to humble himself before one who should be subservient to him.

#### Literary Devices
Job 19:16 employs several literary devices to amplify the pathos of Job's suffering. The most prominent is **Irony**: Job, once the wealthiest and most respected man in the East, is now so utterly destitute of influence that even his own servant ignores his pleas. This stark contrast between his former status and his current humiliation creates a powerful sense of tragic irony. The verse also utilizes **Pathos** to evoke deep sympathy from the reader. The image of a once-powerful master reduced to begging his servant for attention is inherently pitiable and highlights the emotional devastation Job endure. Furthermore, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in the totality of Job's abandonment; while perhaps not literally every single servant, the statement emphasizes the *perceived* and *felt* completeness of his isolation, intensifying the emotional impact of his lament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 19:16 powerfully illustrates the extreme vulnerability of human dignity and the profound pain of social abandonment. It challenges the simplistic equation of prosperity with righteousness, showing a righteous man utterly stripped of all external markers of status and respect. The verse speaks to the universal human experience of feeling utterly alone and disregarded, even by those who should be most loyal. The theological implication is that true suffering can involve not just physical pain or material loss, but a deep, soul-crushing relational void that tests the very foundations of one's identity and faith, forcing one to confront the limits of human support and the perceived silence of God.

* [Psalm 22:1](/psalm/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?")
* [Lamentations 1:1-2](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1-2 - Jerusalem's Desolation and Abandonment")
* [Matthew 26:56](/matthew/26-56 "Matthew 26:56 - Disciples Abandon Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 19:16 serves as a poignant reminder that suffering often extends beyond the physical or material, deeply impacting our relational and emotional well-being. It exposes the fragility of human relationships and the pain of feeling utterly isolated, even by those we expect to be loyal. For believers, this verse prompts us to cultivate profound empathy for those enduring deep trials, recognizing that their pain may include a crushing sense of abandonment and loss of dignity. It challenges us to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering genuine presence and support to those who feel forsaken, rather than adding to their burden with judgment or simplistic explanations. Moreover, it encourages us to anchor our identity and worth not in fleeting earthly status or human approval, but in our unshakeable relationship with God, who, unlike Job's servant, promises never to leave or forsake us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's experience of abandonment by his servant challenge my assumptions about who will stand by me in times of suffering?**
* **In what ways might I, perhaps unknowingly, contribute to the isolation of others who are struggling?**
* **What does Job's humiliation teach me about the true source of dignity and worth, especially when external circumstances are stripped away?**

### FAQ
**Why is the servant's refusal to answer such a significant detail in Job's lament?**

Answer: The servant's refusal is significant because it represents the ultimate degradation of Job's social standing and personal dignity. In ancient Near Eastern society, a master commanded respect and obedience from his household. For a servant to ignore a master's call, and for the master to be reduced to "entreating" or begging, signifies a complete reversal of roles and a profound loss of authority. It underscores the pervasive nature of Job's suffering, showing that his affliction has stripped him not only of wealth and health but also of the most basic human respect and relational connection, leaving him utterly isolated and powerless even within his own home. This detail highlights the completeness of his abandonment, extending even to the lowest rung of his former social hierarchy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's profound experience of abandonment and humiliation, culminating in the indignity of being ignored by his own servant, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While Job suffered as a righteous man, Christ, the perfectly righteous Son of God, willingly embraced an even deeper alienation for humanity's sake. He was [betrayed by a close disciple](/matthew/26-47 "Matthew 26:47 - Judas Betrays Jesus"), [abandoned by all his disciples](/matthew/26-56 "Matthew 26:56 - Disciples Flee"), [denied by Peter](/matthew/26-69 "Matthew 26:69 - Peter Denies Jesus"), and ultimately, on the cross, experienced the most profound divine abandonment as he cried out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" Job's entreaty to his servant, a humiliating plea for acknowledgment, foreshadows Christ's willing submission to the ultimate indignity and suffering, not as a victim of circumstance, but as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). In Christ, the humiliation and abandonment that Job felt are transformed into the very means of our redemption, demonstrating that God Himself entered into the depths of human suffering and isolation to secure our eternal hope and communion.

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 1:15

And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:17

While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:19

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.