Job 27:2

KJV

[As] God liveth, [who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul;

KJV (with Strong's)

As God {H410} liveth {H2416}, who hath taken away {H5493} my judgment {H4941}; and the Almighty {H7706}, who hath vexed {H4843} my soul {H5315};

Complete Jewish Bible

"I swear by the living God, who is denying me justice, and by Shaddai, who deals with me so bitterly,

Berean Standard Bible

“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

American Standard Version

As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 27:2 is a profound and intensely personal oath by Job, made in the crucible of his suffering, where he vehemently asserts his integrity and unwavering belief in God's existence, even as he grapples with the agonizing perception that God has unjustly denied him vindication and has become the direct source of his profound spiritual and emotional torment. This declaration encapsulates the paradoxical nature of Job's faith: an unshakeable commitment to God coupled with a raw, honest expression of his deepest anguish and sense of divine injustice, setting the stage for his final, impassioned defense.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 27:2 initiates a new and pivotal section of Job's discourse, often interpreted as his final soliloquy or oath of innocence, which extends through chapter 31. This declaration immediately follows the silence of Zophar, the last of Job's three friends, signifying the definitive end of their dialogue cycles. Having endured repeated accusations of hidden sin as the cause of his suffering, Job now seizes the floor to deliver a powerful, definitive defense of his righteousness. The verse, beginning with a solemn oath, serves to underscore the absolute truthfulness and gravity of his subsequent declarations, setting a tone of ultimate conviction for his impassioned plea for vindication and his unwavering commitment to his integrity despite his profound distress. It is a moment where Job takes full control of the narrative, asserting his perspective with an unyielding resolve.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Oaths invoking the living God were among the most sacred and binding declarations in ancient Near Eastern culture, akin to the formula "As the LORD lives" found elsewhere in biblical texts. Such an oath was not merely a figure of speech but a profound invocation of divine witness and judgment, signifying the speaker's absolute conviction in the truth of their words, often under penalty of divine retribution if found false. Job's use of this formula highlights his deep reverence for God even as he expresses his grievance, demonstrating that his complaint arises from a place of profound faith, not apostasy. Furthermore, the concept of "judgment" (mishpat) was central to ancient Israelite and broader ancient Near Eastern societies, encompassing legal justice, vindication, and the upholding of righteousness. Job's complaint that God has "taken away my judgment" reflects a deeply ingrained cultural expectation of divine justice that seemed utterly violated in his experience, challenging the conventional wisdom of his time which rigidly linked suffering to sin.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several core themes of the Book of Job. Firstly, it underscores Job's **unwavering integrity and steadfast faith** in God's existence and sovereignty, even amidst his most bitter complaints. Despite feeling abandoned and unjustly afflicted, Job never denies God, as seen throughout his trials, such as when he refused to curse God even after immense loss in [Job 1:22](/job/1-22 "Job 1:22 - Job's Steadfastness"). Secondly, it highlights the profound **problem of perceived divine injustice**, as Job, a righteous man, feels God has stripped him of his right to a fair hearing and vindication, leaving him condemned without cause. This tension is central to the book's exploration of suffering and human understanding of [divine justice](/deuteronomy/32-4 "Deuteronomy 32:4 - God's Perfect Work and Justice"). Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays Job's **intense spiritual and emotional anguish**, attributing his deep bitterness and torment directly to the Almighty. This demonstrates the raw honesty with which Job wrestles with God, expressing a soul-deep suffering that transcends mere physical pain and delves into the existential crisis of a righteous man afflicted by God's seemingly inexplicable actions, a theme echoed in the psalmist's troubled spirit in [Psalm 77:3](/psalms/77-3 "Psalm 77:3 - The Psalmist's Troubled Spirit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼêl'_):** (H410) Shortened from אַיִל, meaning "strength"; as an adjective, "mighty"; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity); God (god), goodly, great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. In Job's oath, this term refers to the one true God, emphasizing His supreme authority and power, even as Job laments His actions.
* **judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** (H4941) From שָׁפַט, meaning "to judge." Properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style. Job asserts that God has deprived him of his right to a fair trial or a just verdict, leaving him without vindication.
* **vexed (Hebrew, _mârar'_):** (H4843) A primitive root; properly, to trickle; but used only as a denominative from מַר, meaning "bitter"; to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively); (be, be in, deal, have, make) bitter(-ly, -ness), be moved with choler, (be, have sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex. Job declares that God has "embittered his soul," conveying a profound sense of inner anguish, distress, and spiritual torment permeating his entire being.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[As] God liveth":** This opening phrase is a solemn oath, a powerful declaration invoking the living God as a witness to the absolute truthfulness of Job's subsequent statements. It underscores Job's unwavering belief in God's existence, vitality, and active presence, even in the midst of his profound suffering and his accusations against God's perceived actions. It paradoxically functions as an affirmation of deep faith preceding a bitter lament.
* **"[who] hath taken away my judgment":** Here, Job expresses his deep sense of injustice and grievance. He believes that God, the ultimate arbiter of justice and the source of vindication, has actively denied him his right to a fair hearing or a just verdict. He perceives himself as condemned without cause, stripped of his ability to prove his innocence or receive a just outcome from the divine court. This clause highlights the central tension of the book: the suffering of the righteous and the perceived absence of divine justice.
* **"and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul":** This clause intensifies Job's complaint, attributing his profound inner turmoil, spiritual anguish, and emotional distress directly to God, who is referred to as "the Almighty" (Shaddai), emphasizing His immense power and sovereignty. "Vexed my soul" means "embittered my soul," conveying a deep, pervasive sorrow, grief, and emotional distress that has permeated his very being, indicating that his suffering is not merely physical but deeply spiritual and existential, inflicted by the very hand of God as he perceives it.

#### Literary Devices
Job 27:2 is rich in **Lament**, a common biblical genre where an individual expresses deep sorrow, complaint, and petition to God. Job's words are a quintessential example of honest, direct lament, where he articulates his pain and perceived injustice without reservation. The verse also employs **Oath**, specifically a divine oath, "As God liveth," which serves to lend utmost solemnity and credibility to Job's declaration, emphasizing his integrity and the gravity of his statements. There is a strong element of **Paradox** in Job's simultaneous affirmation of God's existence and vitality ("As God liveth") with his bitter accusation that this same God has wronged him. This paradox highlights the complexity of Job's faith and his honest wrestling with divine sovereignty. Finally, the verse uses **Personification** in attributing human-like actions of "taking away judgment" and "vexing the soul" directly to God, vividly portraying Job's experience of God as an active, albeit perceived, adversary in his suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 27:2 profoundly challenges simplistic understandings of divine justice and the direct correlation between suffering and sin. It pushes the boundaries of human lament, demonstrating that genuine faith can coexist with raw, even accusatory, honesty towards God in the face of incomprehensible pain. Job's desperate cry reveals the theological tension between God's absolute sovereignty and human experience of injustice, forcing a deeper consideration of God's ways beyond human comprehension. It underscores that God is robust enough to handle our deepest complaints and that true faith is not the absence of doubt or struggle, but rather the persistence of relationship even within that struggle. This verse invites us to reflect on the nature of suffering, the mystery of divine providence, and the permission to bring our unfiltered anguish before the Almighty, trusting in His ultimate goodness even when it feels obscured.

* [Psalm 73:1-3](/psalms/73-1-3 "The Psalmist's Struggle with Injustice")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3-1-20 "Jeremiah's Lament of Affliction")
* [Psalm 42:9-10](/psalms/42-9-10 "The Psalmist Cries Out to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 27:2 stands as a powerful testament to the permissible and even necessary act of honest lament before God. It teaches us that faith is not a sanitized, emotionless assent, but a dynamic, often painful, wrestling with divine reality. Job's cry encourages us to bring our full selves—our pain, confusion, anger, and sense of injustice—before God, trusting that He is big enough to hear and respond without being diminished by our raw honesty. His example cautions against simplistic theological explanations for suffering, reminding us that not all affliction is a direct result of personal sin, and that our perception of God's actions during trials can be deeply skewed by our pain. Furthermore, Job's perseverance, despite his bitter complaints, ultimately leads to a deeper, more profound understanding and trust in God. His journey invites us to cultivate empathy for those who suffer, to be slow to judge, and to cling to hope even when life feels utterly unjust and God seems distant or adversarial, knowing that true spiritual growth often emerges from such profound wrestling and honest engagement.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I tend to filter or hide my true feelings from God, especially when I feel wronged or confused by my circumstances?**
* **How does Job's raw honesty challenge my understanding of what it means to have "faith" during suffering, particularly when God's actions seem inexplicable?**
* **When I or others experience suffering, do I tend to offer simplistic explanations, or do I allow for the mystery and complexity of God's ways, offering compassion rather than quick answers?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's ultimate justice and goodness, even when my immediate experience feels unjust or bitter, and my soul feels vexed?**

### FAQ
**How can Job express such strong complaints against God yet still be considered righteous and a man of faith?**

Answer: Job's expressions of anguish and perceived injustice, while seemingly accusatory, are understood within the biblical tradition of lament. The Book of Job itself, by portraying Job as "blameless and upright" in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Righteousness"), demonstrates that God permits, and even invites, raw honesty from His people. Job's complaints are not a denial of God's existence or sovereignty, but rather an intense wrestling with God's actions and character from within a deep, if pained, relationship. Unlike his friends who offer formulaic and ultimately unhelpful theological explanations, Job insists on his integrity and demands a hearing from God Himself. His faith is not a passive acceptance of suffering, but an active, persistent engagement with the divine, even when God's ways are inscrutable. The book ultimately vindicates Job's honesty, showing that his direct, heartfelt lament was more pleasing to God than the pious but flawed arguments of his friends, as seen in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God's Rebuke of Job's Friends").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's cry in Job 27:2, expressing a profound sense of divine injustice and a soul vexed by the Almighty, finds its ultimate resonance and transformation in the person of Jesus Christ. Job's experience of being condemned without cause and suffering unjustly foreshadows the ultimate innocent sufferer, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). On the cross, Jesus, though perfectly righteous, bore the full weight of humanity's sin and experienced a profound sense of abandonment and vexation, crying out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" This lament, echoing Job's, reveals the depth of Christ's suffering and His identification with the unjustly afflicted. Unlike Job, whose suffering was for an unknown purpose to him, Christ's suffering was a purposeful, atoning sacrifice, demonstrating God's perfect justice and boundless love. Through His death, Christ became the ultimate vindication for all who believe, taking upon Himself the judgment that was due to us, so that we might receive the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Job's longing for a mediator ([Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator")) is fulfilled in Christ, our great High Priest and Advocate ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest")), who perfectly understands our vexed souls and offers true judgment, ultimate vindication, and eternal peace.

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

Job 34:5

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

2 Kings 4:27

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me.

Numbers 14:21

But [as] truly [as] I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

1 Samuel 25:34

For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

Isaiah 40:27

¶ Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

Ruth 1:20

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Ruth 1:21

I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why [then] call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?