Job 19:3

KJV

These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed [that] ye make yourselves strange to me.

KJV (with Strong's)

These ten {H6235} times {H6471} have ye reproached {H3637} me: ye are not ashamed {H954} that ye make yourselves strange {H1970} to me.

Complete Jewish Bible

You've insulted me ten times already; aren't you ashamed to treat me so badly?

Berean Standard Bible

Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

American Standard Version

These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 19:3 powerfully articulates Job's profound anguish and sense of betrayal at the hands of his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. After enduring unimaginable loss and suffering, Job faces a relentless barrage of accusations, which he perceives not merely as disagreement but as a deliberate and shameful act of alienation. This verse highlights the psychological torment inflicted by their unyielding insistence on his guilt, transforming those who should have been sources of comfort into instruments of further pain and deep estrangement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 19:3 is situated within Job's third and most impassioned response (chapters 19-21) to the persistent and increasingly harsh accusations of his friends. Following Bildad's second speech in [Job 18](/job/18 "Job 18 - Bildad's Second Speech"), which paints a dire picture of the wicked's fate, Job's lament in chapter 19 escalates his cry of innocence and his direct appeal to God. This verse specifically addresses the friends, expressing his deep hurt and frustration with their relentless and unhelpful counsel, setting the stage for his profound declaration of faith in [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Redeemer") where he anticipates a divine vindication.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dialogue in Job reflects a common ancient Near Eastern theological framework, often referred to as retribution theology, where suffering was almost universally perceived as a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity as a sign of divine favor. Job's friends operate firmly within this paradigm, unable to conceive of righteous suffering. Their cultural expectation was that a suffering individual would confess their sin to alleviate their plight. Job's refusal to do so, because he genuinely believes himself innocent, is culturally perplexing and frustrating to them, leading to their continued "reproach." This clash of perspectives highlights the limitations of conventional wisdom in the face of profound mystery.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Job. It underscores the theme of **the inadequacy of human wisdom** in the face of divine mystery, as the friends' conventional theology proves utterly insufficient to comprehend Job's unique situation. It also highlights the **pain of misdirected comfort** and the profound **alienation of the suffering righteous**, as Job's closest companions become his tormentors. Furthermore, it foreshadows Job's growing sense of **isolation from both human understanding and, seemingly, divine favor**, pushing him to seek a direct encounter with God, as seen in his longing to present his case before the Almighty in [Job 23:3-4](/job/23-3-4 "Job 23:3-4 - Job's Desire to Plead His Case Before God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Reproached (Hebrew, _kâlam'_):** This verb (H3637) signifies more than simple criticism; it carries the strong connotation of wounding, taunting, insulting, or shaming. It implies a public and aggressive attack on one's character or honor, causing confusion or humiliation. Job is not just being disagreed with; he is being scorned and treated with contempt by those who should be his allies, experiencing a deep emotional injury.
* **Ashamed (Hebrew, _bûwsh'_):** This word (H954) denotes a feeling of shame, humiliation, or confusion, often accompanied by a paling of the face. Job's astonishment stems from his friends' utter lack of remorse or embarrassment for the pain and distress their relentless accusations are causing him. Their insensitivity is shocking to Job, indicating a profound moral blindness or callousness on their part, as they remain unconfounded by their hurtful words.
* **Strange (Hebrew, _hâkar'_):** The verb "to make yourselves strange" (H1970) comes from a root meaning "to injure" or "to make oneself strange." In this context, it implies a deliberate act of alienation. Job's friends are intentionally treating him as if they do not know him, as if he is an enemy or an outsider, rather than a beloved friend. This underscores the depth of their betrayal and Job's resulting isolation, as they actively choose to distance themselves from him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These ten times have ye reproached me:"** Job uses a numerical idiom, "ten times," which in Hebrew (H6235 ʻeser, H6471 paʻam) often means "many times" or "repeatedly," not necessarily a literal count. This emphasizes the ceaseless, relentless, and overwhelming nature of the accusations Job has endured from his friends. It conveys a sense of being constantly under verbal assault, highlighting the cumulative psychological toll of their reproaches.
* **"ye are not ashamed [that] ye make yourselves strange to me."** This clause expresses Job's profound incredulity and hurt. He is shocked by their utter lack of shame (H954 bûwsh) or compassion. The phrase "make yourselves strange" (H1970 hâkar) highlights their deliberate choice to treat him as an alien or an enemy, rather than a friend. They have actively distanced themselves from him, refusing to acknowledge his true character or his genuine suffering, thereby deepening his isolation and betrayal.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Hyperbole** is evident in "these ten times," an idiom emphasizing the overwhelming frequency and intensity of the friends' reproaches rather than a literal count. This exaggeration underscores Job's profound emotional distress and the relentless nature of their verbal assault. **Irony** is powerfully present; those who initially came to comfort Job have become his tormentors, turning empathy into alienation. The friends, by their actions, become "strange" to Job, a stark contrast to their expected role as compassionate companions. This creates a deeply poignant **pathos**, effectively evoking sympathy for Job's profound sense of betrayal and isolation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 19:3 profoundly illustrates the destructive power of misapplied theology and the pain of human judgment. It challenges a simplistic understanding of divine retribution, forcing readers to grapple with the mystery of suffering and the inadequacy of human wisdom to fully comprehend God's ways. The friends' actions expose a profound failure of empathy, prioritizing rigid doctrine over compassionate presence, a theme echoed throughout the wisdom literature. This verse serves as a stark reminder that even well-intentioned counsel can inflict deep wounds when devoid of true understanding, humility, and genuine compassion for the sufferer.

* [Proverbs 27:6](/proverbs/27-6 "Proverbs 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend")
* [Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Weep with those who weep")
* [Hebrews 12:3](/hebrews/12-3 "Hebrews 12:3 - Consider Him who endured opposition")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 19:3 offers a timeless lesson on the critical importance of empathy, humility, and the careful use of words, especially when ministering to those in distress. It serves as a powerful caution against presumptive judgment, reminding us that not all suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and attributing it as such can inflict deeper wounds than the original affliction. True comfort often lies not in offering quick theological explanations or solutions, but in empathetic listening, patient presence, and a willingness to sit with another's pain without attempting to "fix" it or assign blame. Job longed for understanding and compassion, not accusation and alienation. This verse challenges us to consider how our words and actions might either build up or tear down, and to prioritize bearing one another's burdens over imposing our own theological frameworks, remembering that a compassionate heart often speaks more powerfully than a thousand well-reasoned arguments.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I respond when I see others suffering? Am I quick to offer explanations or judgment, or do I prioritize empathetic presence and active listening?**
* **In what ways might my own theological assumptions or desire for quick answers prevent me from truly understanding and comforting someone in pain?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of humility and compassion in my interactions, especially when faced with situations I don't fully understand or where simple answers are elusive?**

### FAQ
**What does "ten times" mean in this verse?**

Answer: In biblical Hebrew, the phrase "ten times" (עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים, _‘eser pə‘āmîm_) is an idiomatic expression signifying "many times" or "repeatedly," rather than a literal count of exactly ten occurrences. It emphasizes the relentless and overwhelming frequency of the accusations Job has endured from his friends. This idiom is also found in other biblical texts, such as [Genesis 31:7](/genesis/31-7 "Genesis 31:7 - Laban changed Jacob's wages ten times"), where Laban changed Jacob's wages "ten times," meaning numerous times. Job uses it here to convey the sheer volume and persistence of their reproaches, highlighting his profound weariness and sense of being constantly under verbal assault.

**Why does Job say his friends "make yourselves strange" to him?**

Answer: This phrase, translated from the Hebrew root נכר (_nākar_), specifically from the Hiphil form of H1970 _hâkar_, means "to act as a stranger" or "to alienate oneself." Job is expressing his profound sense of betrayal and isolation. His friends, who should have been his closest allies and sources of comfort, have deliberately chosen to treat him as an outsider, an enemy, or someone they no longer recognize. They have refused to acknowledge his innocence or his genuine suffering, instead imposing their rigid theological framework upon him. This deliberate act of estrangement deepens Job's pain, as those who were once intimate companions have now become distant and judgmental, as he laments in [Job 16:2](/job/16-2 "Job 16:2 - Job's miserable comforters").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 19:3, with its portrayal of the righteous sufferer enduring relentless reproach and alienation from his closest companions, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Like Job, Jesus was a righteous sufferer, though perfectly so, who endured not only physical torment but also the psychological anguish of being reviled and misunderstood by those He came to save. He was "reproached" by the religious leaders, mocked by the crowds, and ultimately abandoned by His disciples, even His closest friends, as recounted in [Matthew 26:56](/matthew/26-56 "Matthew 26:56 - All the disciples deserted him and fled"). The ultimate act of "making themselves strange" to Him occurred when humanity, in its sin, rejected the very Son of God, leading to His crucifixion. Yet, unlike Job, whose suffering was a mystery, Christ's suffering was a deliberate, redemptive act—He became "strange" to God (bearing the sin of the world) so that we might be reconciled and made "near" to God. His cry on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' cry of dereliction")), echoes Job's alienation, but with the divine purpose of atoning for our sins, demonstrating that the innocent suffering depicted in Job ultimately points to the infinitely greater, salvific suffering of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who took upon Himself the reproach and estrangement meant for us, so that we might find true comfort and belonging in Him.

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

Genesis 31:7

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Job 18:4

He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Job 18:21

Surely such [are] the dwellings of the wicked, and this [is] the place [of him that] knoweth not God.

Job 15:4

Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

Job 15:6

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Job 15:11

[Are] the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

Job 15:12

Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,