Job 17:3

Authorized King James Version

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Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Original Language Analysis

שִֽׂימָה Lay down H7760
שִֽׂימָה Lay down
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 1 of 8
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
נָּ֭א H4994
נָּ֭א
Strong's: H4994
Word #: 2 of 8
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
עָרְבֵ֣נִי now put me in a surety H6148
עָרְבֵ֣נִי now put me in a surety
Strong's: H6148
Word #: 3 of 8
to braid, i.e., intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)
עִמָּ֑ךְ H5973
עִמָּ֑ךְ
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 4 of 8
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
מִֽי H4310
מִֽי
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 5 of 8
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
ה֝֗וּא H1931
ה֝֗וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 6 of 8
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
לְיָדִ֥י hands H3027
לְיָדִ֥י hands
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 7 of 8
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
יִתָּקֵֽעַ׃ with thee who is he that will strike H8628
יִתָּקֵֽעַ׃ with thee who is he that will strike
Strong's: H8628
Word #: 8 of 8
to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become

Analysis & Commentary

Job challenges God: 'Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?' This legal language asks God to provide bail or pledge. Job seeks divine guarantee of justice, recognizing no human can provide security before God's court.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern legal systems required sureties or pledges for accused persons. Job's appeal for God Himself to stand surety anticipates Christ as our guarantee (Hebrews 7:22).

Questions for Reflection