But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
But ye should say {H559}, Why persecute {H7291} we him, seeing the root {H8328} of the matter {H1697} is found {H4672} in me?
"If you say, 'How will we persecute him?'-the root of the matter is found in me.
If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’
If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me;
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Job 19:22
Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? -
1 Kings 14:13
And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found [some] good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. -
Psalms 69:26
For they persecute [him] whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
In Job 19:28, the patriarch Job issues a poignant challenge to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who have relentlessly accused him of hidden sin as the cause of his immense suffering. This verse is part of Job’s passionate defense, where he expresses his deep frustration with their uncharitable and misguided judgments.
Context
This verse comes during Job’s third and final response to his friends’ accusations, a powerful chapter where he also famously declares his hope in a living Redeemer (Job 19:25). Throughout their dialogues, Job’s friends adhered to a rigid theology: suffering is a direct consequence of sin. Because Job was suffering severely, they concluded he must be a great sinner, despite his consistent protestations of innocence. In this verse, Job turns their accusations back on them, urging them to reconsider their harsh treatment. He implies that the very truth of his situation, his integrity, or perhaps the divine purpose behind his suffering, is evident if they would only look with discernment instead of condemnation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the root of the matter" translates the Hebrew shoresh davar (שֹׁרֶשׁ דָּבָר). Shoresh means "root" or "foundation," and davar can mean "word," "thing," "matter," or "affair." Together, it signifies the core truth, the essence, or the fundamental principle of the situation. Job is asserting that the underlying truth of his integrity or the divine purpose in his suffering is already present within him, and his friends should perceive it rather than persecute him. The word for "persecute" here implies a relentless pursuit or hunting, emphasizing the severity of their verbal assault.
Practical Application
Job 19:28 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers: