I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I am afraid {H3025} of all my sorrows {H6094}, I know {H3045} that thou wilt not hold me innocent {H5352}.
then I'm still afraid of all my pain, and I know you will not hold me innocent.
I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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Psalms 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. -
Job 3:25
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. -
Job 9:20
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. -
Job 9:21
[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. -
Psalms 130:3
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? -
Job 21:6
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. -
Job 14:16
¶ For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
Job 9:28 (KJV)
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
Context
This verse is part of Job's response to Bildad the Shuhite. After Bildad asserts God's justice and implies Job's children were punished for sin, and that Job himself should repent, Job reflects on the immense power and inscrutability of God. He acknowledges God's sovereignty but questions how a mere human can possibly argue their case or be deemed righteous before such an almighty being. Job feels overwhelmed by his suffering and perceives that, no matter what he does or says, God will not declare him innocent in this divine court he imagines.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "hold me innocent" translates a Hebrew construction that implies God would "acquit" or "declare innocent" Job in a legal sense. Job's fear is that, even if he were truly righteous, God's power and standards are so high that he would still be found wanting or guilty in God's judgment.
Commentary and Application
Job's cry here reveals the depth of his despair. He is not just suffering physically; he is tormented by the spiritual and existential crisis of feeling condemned by the very God he served. His fear ("I am afraid of all my sorrows") isn't just of the pain itself, but of what it signifies – that God is against him, and he has no recourse. The statement "I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent" is a bitter conclusion born of his perception of God's overwhelming power (see Job 9:4) and his own perceived helplessness in the face of it.
This verse resonates with the human struggle against suffering and the feeling of being misunderstood or judged, even by God. It highlights the ancient problem of theodicy – how a just God can allow such intense suffering, particularly for someone like Job, who is described elsewhere as blameless (see Job 1:1). Job's raw honesty in expressing his fear and his sense of inevitable condemnation is a powerful picture of a soul in anguish.
While Job's perspective here is limited by his suffering and lack of full understanding (which God later corrects), his words capture a universal human fear: the fear of not being good enough, of being found guilty before a perfect standard. Ultimately, the Bible's larger narrative, especially through Christ, offers a different perspective on innocence and reconciliation, not based on human merit but on divine grace (see Romans 5:1).
Reflection
Job's fear in this verse reminds us that suffering often brings profound spiritual challenges, leading us to question God's justice or our standing with Him. While Job's conclusion about not being held innocent was based on his limited perspective during his trial, the Christian faith teaches that true innocence and reconciliation come through faith in Christ, who bore our guilt. We are called to bring our fears and doubts honestly before God, trusting in His ultimate justice and mercy, even when circumstances are overwhelming.