Job 19:18

Job 19:18 from the King James Version (KJV) captures the profound depths of Job’s suffering and humiliation, revealing how even the youngest members of society had turned against him.

Context

This verse is part of Job's third major speech in the Book of Job, specifically within Chapter 19, where he continues to lament his plight and defend his integrity against the accusations of his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. After enduring immense physical suffering, loss of family, and wealth, Job is now subjected to social ostracism and ridicule. His friends, rather than offering comfort, have insisted that his suffering must be a direct consequence of his sin, implying he is being justly punished by God. Job 19:18 highlights the extreme extent of his social degradation, illustrating that his former status and respect had completely vanished. He feels utterly abandoned, not only by God (as expressed in Job 19:6) but also by his closest associates and even the community's children.

Key Themes

• Extreme Humiliation and Isolation: Job's lament reveals a man stripped of all dignity. The fact that "young children despised" him underscores the utter contempt and lack of respect he faced. This is a profound form of social isolation, as even the most vulnerable members of society felt free to mock him.
• Loss of Social Standing: Job, once a man of great wealth and influence, revered in his community (Job 29:7-11), now experiences the complete reversal of his fortunes. This verse vividly portrays his fall from grace in the eyes of others.
• The Depth of Suffering: Beyond physical pain and material loss, Job's emotional and psychological torment is amplified by the universal scorn he encounters. The verbal abuse from children highlights the pervasive nature of his affliction.
• Unjust Accusation: Throughout his ordeal, Job maintains his innocence, believing his suffering is not a direct result of unconfessed sin. The scorn from children, who are typically taught to respect elders, serves as another layer of the unjust and irrational nature of his plight.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "despised" (קַלּוּ, qallu) comes from a root meaning "to be light," "swift," or "insignificant." In this context, it conveys the idea of holding someone in contempt, treating them as worthless, or disdaining them. The phrase "I arose, and they spake against me" suggests Job's attempts to assert himself or perhaps even just to stand up, were met with immediate and continued verbal abuse or mockery. It paints a picture of constant, relentless opposition from an unexpected source, compounding his misery.

Practical Application

Job's experience in Job 19:18 serves as a powerful reminder of the human capacity for cruelty and the profound pain of social humiliation. For believers, it highlights several points:

• Empathy for the Suffering: It calls us to greater empathy for those who are marginalized, ridiculed, or isolated, reminding us that true comfort involves understanding and alleviating their burden, not adding to it.
• Resilience in Adversity: Job's unwavering faith, even amidst such extreme contempt, stands as a testament to spiritual resilience. Though he laments bitterly, he never fully abandons his trust in God's ultimate justice, as seen in his declaration of his Redeemer (Job 19:25).
• The Nature of Unjust Suffering: This verse, and the Book of Job as a whole, challenges the simplistic view that all suffering is a direct punishment for sin. It prepares us to understand that righteous individuals may also endure immense trials, sometimes even facing scorn from the least expected sources.