Job 19:23

¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

Oh that {H5414} my words {H4405} were now {H645} written {H3789}! oh that {H5414} they were printed {H2710} in a book {H5612}!

I wish my words were written down, that they were inscribed in a scroll,

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,

Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

Commentary

In Job 19:23, the patriarch Job, amidst his profound suffering and the harsh accusations of his friends, expresses a fervent desire for his words to be permanently recorded. This cry reveals his desperate longing for vindication and for his declaration of innocence and faith to endure beyond his immediate circumstances.

Context

This verse is a poignant outburst from Job, who has lost everything – his family, wealth, and health. His three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, have arrived, ostensibly to comfort him, but instead engage in a lengthy debate, arguing that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of some hidden sin. Job vehemently denies their accusations, maintaining his righteousness before God. Feeling misunderstood and unjustly condemned by both his friends and seemingly by God himself, Job wishes for his testimony to be enshrined for posterity. This precedes his magnificent declaration of faith in his Redeemer in Job 19:25, making this verse a powerful preamble to one of the Bible's most profound statements of hope.

Key Themes

  • Desire for Vindication: Job yearns for his innocence to be publicly and permanently acknowledged. He believes that if his words were written down, they would serve as a lasting record, testifying against the false accusations of his friends and perhaps even appealing to a future judgment.
  • Permanence of Truth: In a world where oral tradition was dominant but easily distorted, Job recognized the enduring power of the written word. He desired his truth to be immutable, etched in stone or preserved in a book, making it accessible to future generations and ensuring its accuracy.
  • Appeal to a Higher Authority: By wishing for his words to be recorded, Job implicitly appeals to a higher court—God Himself—to validate his claims. He trusts that in due time, God will set the record straight, as articulated in his subsequent declaration of a living Redeemer.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "written" (ḥāqaq, חָקַק) often carries the connotation of engraving or inscribing, particularly on stone or metal, implying a deep and lasting impression. The phrase "printed in a book" (also derived from ḥāqaq or related to kātab, כָּתַב, "to write") refers not to modern printing technology, but to the creation of a formal, enduring document, perhaps on a scroll or tablet. This emphasizes Job's desire for an unalterable, official record of his plea, underscoring its solemnity and importance.

Practical Application

Job's desperate plea resonates even today. In an age of misinformation and fleeting communication, the desire for truth to be recorded and preserved remains strong. This verse reminds us of:

  • The importance of standing firm in our integrity, even when facing misunderstanding or false accusations.
  • The enduring power and reliability of God's written Word, the Bible, which serves as an unchangeable testimony of His character and promises (Psalm 119:89).
  • Our ultimate hope for justice and vindication, knowing that God, our living Redeemer, will ultimately make all things right (Romans 12:19). Job's longing for an enduring record foreshadows the divine record of our lives and God's ultimate judgment.
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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 30:8

    ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

  • Job 31:35

    Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book.

  • Isaiah 8:1

    ¶ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.