Job 19:4

KJV

And be it indeed [that] I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

KJV (with Strong's)

And be it indeed {H551} that I have erred {H7686}, mine error {H4879} remaineth {H3885} with myself.

Complete Jewish Bible

Even if it's true that I made a mistake, my error stays with me.

Berean Standard Bible

Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.

American Standard Version

And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 19:4 is a profound and emotionally charged declaration from Job, who, amidst his unfathomable suffering and the relentless, misinformed accusations of his friends, asserts a deeply personal and almost defiant ownership over his spiritual state. It is a poignant statement where Job hypothetically concedes the possibility of an error on his part, yet firmly insists that any such failing, and its consequences, remain exclusively his own burden, thereby challenging the friends' self-appointed roles as divine arbiters of his affliction. This verse encapsulates Job's profound sense of isolation and his steadfast refusal to accept a simplistic, retributive theology that fails to account for the complexities of righteous suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Job's third and most impassioned response to his friends' accusations, specifically after Bildad's second speech in [Job 18](/job/18 "Job 18 - Bildad's Second Speech"). Bildad, like Eliphaz and Zophar, has reiterated the conventional wisdom that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, implying Job's guilt. Job's speech in [Job 19](/job/19 "Job 19 - Job's Lament and Hope") is a desperate cry for vindication and understanding, moving from a lament about his abandonment by God and man (vv. 1-12) to a powerful assertion of his innocence and a profound expression of hope in a future Redeemer (vv. 23-27). Verse 4 serves as a crucial pivot, where Job directly confronts his friends' judgmental stance, asserting his right to bear his own spiritual condition without their unwarranted intrusion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a prevalent theological framework, often termed "retribution theology," posited a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and wickedness and suffering. This belief system, while containing elements of truth, was often applied simplistically, leading to the conclusion that anyone experiencing severe suffering must be guilty of significant sin. Job's friends operate entirely within this framework. Furthermore, social standing and honor were paramount; public humiliation and ostracization, as Job experienced, were devastating. By declaring "mine error remaineth with myself," Job is not only challenging their theology but also asserting a personal dignity and a boundary against their public shaming and intrusive judgments, which would have been deeply offensive in that cultural milieu.
* **Key Themes:** Job 19:4 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book. It powerfully highlights the **fallibility of human judgment**, particularly in discerning divine purposes, as Job's friends repeatedly misinterpret his suffering, leading God to later rebuke them in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends"). The verse also underscores the **nature of suffering**, challenging the simplistic cause-and-effect model of retribution theology by positing that suffering is not always a direct punitive consequence of specific, unconfessed sin. Implicitly, Job asserts the theme of **personal integrity and accountability**, even in the face of overwhelming external pressure, as he grapples with his own conscience and God's mysterious ways, foreshadowing his ultimate vindication and deeper understanding of God's sovereignty found in [Job 42:5-6](/job/42-5 "Job 42:5 - Job's Vision of God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Erred (Hebrew, _shagiti'_):** This verb (שָׁגָה, _shagah_) typically denotes a mistake, an unintentional error, a straying, or an inadvertent sin, rather than a deliberate, rebellious transgression. Job's choice of this word is significant; he is not confessing to heinous crimes or willful rebellion against God. Instead, he is hypothetically acknowledging general human fallibility or a minor, perhaps unknown, deviation, which stands in stark contrast to the grave sins his friends accuse him of. This nuance underscores his claim of relative innocence concerning the severity of his trials.
* **Remaineth (Hebrew, _yalîn'_):** Derived from the root לִין (_lîn_), meaning "to lodge," "to stay overnight," or "to abide," this word emphasizes permanence and personal possession. When Job says his error "remaineth with myself," he is asserting that any potential fault is his own to bear, to live with, and to account for, without the need for his friends' intrusive and condemnatory intervention. It conveys a strong sense of personal boundary and the deeply private nature of his spiritual struggle.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And be it indeed [that] I have erred":** This opening clause is a hypothetical concession, not an outright admission of guilt for the kind of sin his friends are accusing him of. Job uses a rhetorical device to say, "Even if, for argument's sake, I have made a mistake or strayed unintentionally..." This sets up his powerful counter-assertion. It highlights his willingness to consider his own fallibility, but within the bounds of what he understands to be true about himself—that he is not guilty of the enormous sins that would warrant such catastrophic suffering according to his friends' theology.
* **"mine error remaineth with myself":** This is the core of Job's defiant assertion. It communicates several layers of meaning:
* **Personal Accountability:** Any error is his own to bear, not for others to judge or exploit.
* **Rejection of External Judgment:** He is pushing back against the friends' self-appointed role as his accusers and judges. His spiritual state is between him and God, not for public dissection and condemnation by fallible humans.
* **Isolation and Burden:** It underscores his profound loneliness. He is left to carry his burden, whatever its source, alone, without the empathy or understanding he desperately craves. This phrase powerfully conveys his sense of being misunderstood and unjustly treated by those who should have offered comfort.

#### Literary Devices
Job 19:4 is rich in literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological weight. The most prominent is **Assertion**, as Job forcefully declares ownership of his spiritual state and rejects the friends' intrusive judgments. This is coupled with a subtle **Irony**, for while Job hypothetically admits to "error," it is the friends who are truly erring in their judgment and understanding of God's ways, a point God himself will later confirm. The verse also employs **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for Job's plight; his statement is not merely a theological argument but a cry from a man pushed to his emotional limits, seeking to protect his dignity and sanity in the face of relentless, uncompassionate accusations. The structure of the statement, moving from a hypothetical concession to a firm declaration, creates a powerful rhetorical effect, emphasizing Job's unwavering conviction despite his suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 19:4 challenges the simplistic notion that all suffering is a direct, punitive consequence of personal sin, a theological position vigorously defended by Job's friends. While the Bible certainly teaches that sin has consequences, Job's experience, and this verse in particular, underscore that God's ways are often far more complex and mysterious than human understanding can grasp. It highlights the profound truth that righteous individuals can suffer, and their suffering may serve purposes beyond immediate retribution, such as refining faith, revealing God's glory, or challenging human theological constructs. Job's assertion of personal accountability, while rejecting the friends' judgment, points to the individual's direct relationship with God, bypassing human intermediaries who presume to know God's mind.

* [John 9:3](/john/9-3 "John 9:3 - Jesus on the Cause of Suffering")
* [Galatians 6:5](/galatians/6-5 "Galatians 6:5 - Bearing One's Own Burden")
* [Romans 14:12](/romans/14-12 "Romans 14:12 - Each Will Give Account")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 19:4 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, particularly in how we approach suffering and judgment. It serves as a powerful cautionary tale against offering simplistic, formulaic explanations for another's pain. Our human capacity to understand the complex reasons behind suffering is limited, and presuming to know God's specific punitive intent can lead to profound spiritual harm, as it did for Job. Instead, this verse calls us to cultivate empathy, humility, and compassion, recognizing that our role is to bear burdens with others, not to add to them through ill-informed judgment. It also reminds us of the importance of personal accountability before God, while simultaneously affirming our right to a private spiritual journey, free from the unwarranted intrusion and condemnation of others. We are called to offer comfort and understanding, remembering that only God truly knows the heart and the full tapestry of His sovereign plan in every life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I tend to react when I see others suffering? Do I instinctively look for a cause in their actions, or do I approach with empathy and humility?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to offer simplistic theological explanations for complex life situations, either for myself or for others?**
* **How can I better practice bearing my own spiritual burdens before God, while also extending grace and non-judgmental support to those around me?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 19:4 imply Job is admitting he sinned, or is he maintaining his innocence?**

Answer: Job 19:4 is a nuanced statement where Job hypothetically concedes the possibility of "error" (Hebrew, _shagiti_), which typically refers to an unintentional mistake or straying, not a deliberate, rebellious sin. He is *not* admitting to the grave sins his friends accuse him of, which they believe warrant his immense suffering. Instead, he is asserting that *even if* he had made such an unintentional error, it is his own private burden and does not justify their relentless, public condemnation. He is maintaining his innocence regarding their accusations of specific, heinous sin, while simultaneously pushing back against their right to judge him. His primary aim is to defend his integrity and challenge their rigid, simplistic theology that equates all suffering with direct sin. This aligns with God's later declaration in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends") that Job "has spoken of me what is right," in contrast to his friends.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 19:4, with its poignant declaration of Job's personal burden and his rejection of unjust human judgment, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job, an innocent sufferer bearing a burden not fully understood by others, foreshadows the ultimate innocent Sufferer. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the ultimate "error" – not His own, but the collective sin of humanity. He was unjustly accused, condemned by human judgment, and abandoned by those He came to save, much like Job was by his friends. Yet, unlike Job, who bore his own hypothetical error, Christ truly bore the sins of many, taking upon Himself the full weight of divine wrath, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:4-6](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4 - Christ Bears Our Sufferings"). His suffering was not for His own sin, for He "knew no sin" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), but for ours. In His crucifixion, Jesus fully embraced the ultimate isolation and burden, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry on the Cross")). Thus, Job's assertion, "mine error remaineth with myself," finds its ultimate, redemptive echo in Christ, who, in perfect obedience, took our errors upon Himself, ensuring that through His sacrifice, our true error no longer remains with us, but is atoned for, granting us reconciliation and eternal life ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")).

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

Proverbs 9:12

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

Job 11:3

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Job 11:6

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].

Ezekiel 18:4

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

2 Samuel 24:17

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

Galatians 6:5

For every man shall bear his own burden.