Job 19:7

KJV

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but [there is] no judgment.

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, I cry out {H6817} of wrong {H2555}, but I am not heard {H6030}: I cry aloud {H7768}, but there is no judgment {H4941}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If I cry, 'Violence!' no one hears me; I cry aloud, but there is no justice.

Berean Standard Bible

Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

American Standard Version

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 19:7 encapsulates the profound anguish of a righteous man who, amidst inexplicable suffering and relentless accusations, feels utterly abandoned and unheard by God. It is a poignant expression of Job's desperate cry for vindication and justice, lamenting the perceived divine silence and inaction in the face of what he experiences as violent injustice. This verse highlights the deep human struggle with the problem of suffering and the perplexing silence of the divine during trials, as Job yearns for a fair hearing that seems perpetually denied, yet paradoxically sets the stage for his profound declaration of faith.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 19:7 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically his impassioned response to Bildad, found in [Job 18-19](/job/18 "Job 18-19 - Bildad's Speech and Job's Response"). By this point in the narrative, Job has endured catastrophic loss—his children, his wealth, and his health—and is subjected to the unyielding, flawed theological arguments of his three friends, who insist his suffering must be a direct consequence of his sin. Job vehemently denies their premise, maintaining his integrity and longing for a direct, fair hearing from God Himself. This verse is a direct articulation of his desperate plea for a divine courtroom, a legal vindication, against what he perceives as God's unjust affliction and profound silence. It serves as a crucial emotional and theological precursor to his bold declaration of faith in a living Redeemer in the verses immediately following, particularly [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Declaration of a Living Redeemer").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The cultural backdrop of the ancient Near East (ANE) is vital for understanding Job's lament. The concept of a divine court where one could present a case and seek a just ruling was a familiar motif in ANE thought, as seen in various legal codes and narratives. Job's yearning for "judgment" (mišpāṭ) reflects this legal framework, where a formal hearing and a just verdict were paramount. Furthermore, the prevailing wisdom tradition of the time often posited a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and wickedness and suffering. Job's friends operate entirely within this retribution theology, which Job's experience fundamentally challenges. His cry in this verse is not merely a personal complaint but a profound theological wrestling match with the dominant cultural and religious assumptions of his day, questioning how a just God could allow such suffering without cause or explanation, a theme explored throughout the [Book of Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job - Suffering and Sovereignty").
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes central to the [Book of Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job - An Exploration of Suffering and Justice"). Firstly, it highlights the **Problem of Suffering**, particularly the perplexing question of why the righteous suffer without apparent cause. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Justice and Silence**, as Job grapples with God's apparent inaction and perceived injustice, feeling abandoned and unheard despite his fervent pleas. Thirdly, it expresses Job's desperate longing for **Vindication**, a fair hearing and declaration of his innocence before God, a desire that drives much of his argumentation against his friends. Finally, it exemplifies the biblical tradition of **Lament and Protest**, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to bring raw, honest, and even confrontational prayers to God in times of extreme distress, a theme powerfully echoed throughout many [Psalms of lament](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Lament").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wrong (Hebrew, _châmâç'_):** From H2555, this word denotes "violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain." It is much stronger than mere misfortune or error; it signifies active, aggressive harm, oppression, or moral outrage. By using _châmâç_, Job is not simply complaining about bad luck but protesting against a profound, active wrongdoing inflicted upon him, implying that God is either the direct perpetrator or is unjustly allowing this violence to persist without intervention. It carries connotations of active, aggressive harm and unrighteousness.
* **Heard (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** From H6030, this primitive root means "to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond." The verb _ʻânâh_ implies more than simply perceiving sound; it suggests listening with attention, understanding, and often, responding or acting upon what is heard. Job's complaint is that God is not actively engaging with his plea, not truly listening in a way that leads to understanding or a just response. It signifies a perceived lack of divine attentiveness and responsiveness, leaving Job in a state of profound isolation.
* **Judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** From H4941, this term refers to "a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree... abstractly, justice." It encapsulates a legal decision, a just ruling, vindication, or the administration of justice. Job desperately seeks a divine verdict that would clear his name, affirm his innocence, and set things right. He yearns for God to act as a righteous judge on his behalf, but finds no such intervention, no formal decree that validates his suffering or innocence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, I cry out of wrong":** Job uses "Behold" (hinnēh) to draw immediate attention to the intensity and nature of his outcry. His cry is not just a complaint but a vehement protest against a perceived violent injustice (_châmâç_) that he feels has been inflicted upon him. He attributes this wrong, directly or indirectly, to God, who he believes is afflicting him without cause or just reason.
* **"but I am not heard":** This clause highlights Job's profound sense of isolation and divine abandonment. Despite his fervent pleas and vocal expressions of distress, his words seem to fall on deaf ears, implying God's lack of attention, understanding, or willingness to respond to his suffering. It conveys a terrifying sense of spiritual solitude, as if his deepest cries are met with an impenetrable silence.
* **"I cry aloud, but [there is] no judgment":** Job reiterates his desperate vocalization ("cry aloud" - _shâvaʻ_, H7768, a strong cry of distress or appeal), emphasizing the urgency and desperation of his situation. The core of his grievance is the absence of "judgment" (_mishpâṭ_), meaning a just verdict or vindication. He yearns for God to intervene, to arbitrate his case fairly, and to declare his innocence, but finds no such divine intervention or resolution to his perceived injustice.

#### Literary Devices
Job 19:7 is a powerful example of **lament**, a common genre in biblical literature where an individual expresses deep sorrow, pain, and protest to God, often accompanied by a plea for intervention. The verse employs **synonymous parallelism**, a fundamental feature of Hebrew poetry, where the second half of the verse ("I cry aloud, but there is no judgment") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first half ("I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard"). Both clauses convey Job's desperate cry and the frustrating lack of divine response or vindication, reinforcing the depth of his despair and the perceived injustice. While Job's suffering is undeniably real, his assertion of being "not heard" and receiving "no judgment" can also be understood as **hyperbole**, reflecting the extremity of his emotional state and perceived abandonment rather than an absolute theological statement about God's inability to hear. This rhetorical exaggeration underscores the profound agony and sense of injustice Job experiences.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 19:7 powerfully articulates the human experience of feeling unheard and unvindicated in suffering, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. It challenges simplistic theological frameworks that equate suffering directly with sin, pushing believers to grapple with the mystery of divine providence and the nature of God's justice. This verse underscores the biblical permission for raw, honest lament before God, even when it expresses profound confusion or perceived abandonment. It is a cry for a righteous God to act righteously on behalf of the afflicted, setting the stage for Job's later declaration of faith in a living Redeemer who will ultimately bring justice and vindication.
* [Psalm 22:1-2](/psalms/22-1-2 "Psalm 22:1-2 - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?")
* [Lamentations 3:8](/lamentations/3-8 "Lamentations 3:8 - He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chains heavy.")
* [Psalm 13:1-2](/psalms/13-1-2 "Psalm 13:1-2 - How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 19:7 offers profound comfort and challenge for the contemporary believer. In an age where quick fixes and easy answers are often sought, Job's raw lament reminds us that faith is not always about understanding divine purposes, but often about enduring the silence and wrestling with God in our pain. This verse grants permission to bring our most agonizing questions and deepest frustrations directly to God, without pretense or spiritualized platitudes. It encourages a robust, honest prayer life, acknowledging that true faith can coexist with profound doubt and despair. Furthermore, it calls us to cultivate empathy for those who suffer, resisting the urge to offer simplistic explanations or attribute their pain to hidden sin, but rather to sit with them in their unanswered cries, just as Job's friends failed to do. It reminds us that sometimes the most spiritual response is simply to lament, trusting that God hears even when His response is not immediately apparent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's honest lament in this verse validate your own feelings of frustration or being unheard by God during difficult times?**
* **In what ways might the "silence" of God be an invitation to deeper trust rather than a sign of abandonment?**
* **How can we better support those who are crying out for justice or vindication, without offering simplistic theological answers or minimizing their pain?**

### FAQ
**Does God truly not hear our prayers, as Job claims here?**

Answer: Job's statement "I am not heard" is an expression of his subjective experience and profound anguish, not a definitive theological declaration about God's inability or unwillingness to hear. From Job's limited perspective in the midst of his overwhelming suffering, it *felt* as though God was silent and unresponsive, leading to his desperate cry for "no judgment." The broader biblical narrative, including the conclusion of the [Book of Job](/job/38 "God's Response to Job in Job 38"), consistently affirms that God hears the cries of His people, even if His response is not immediate, or in the manner or timing we expect. [Psalm 66:19](/psalms/66-19 "Psalm 66:19 - God has surely heard me") states, "But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer." Similarly, [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14 - Confidence in Prayer") assures us, "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." Job's lament is a model of honest prayer, demonstrating the depth of human emotion in suffering, rather than a theological treatise on divine deafness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry for vindication and his feeling of being unheard find their ultimate echo and profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While Job suffered as a righteous man seeking a hearing and justice, Jesus, the perfectly righteous [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), truly experienced the ultimate cry of abandonment on the cross: "[My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, the Father *did* turn away from the Son who bore the world's sin, allowing Him to experience the very "no judgment" and "not heard" that Job lamented, but for a redemptive purpose. Christ's suffering was not for His own sin, but for ours, making Him the ultimate innocent sufferer. Through His death and resurrection, He secured the true "judgment" and "vindication" that Job longed for, not just for Himself ([1 Timothy 3:16](/1_timothy/3-16 "1 Timothy 3:16 - Christ Vindicated by the Spirit")), but for all who believe. In Christ, our cries are heard, and our ultimate vindication is guaranteed, for He is our [advocate with the Father](/1_john/2-1 "1 John 2:1 - Christ Our Advocate"), ensuring that we are always heard and ultimately judged righteous in Him. His suffering transforms our cries into hope, knowing that our ultimate justice is secured in His finished work on the cross, leading to the promise of [no more tears or pain](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears").

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

Habakkuk 1:2

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!

Habakkuk 1:3

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention.

Lamentations 3:8

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

Job 34:5

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

Job 23:3

Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

Job 23:7

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 30:20

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me [not].