Job 17:8
Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
Original Language Analysis
יָשֹׁ֣מּוּ
men shall be astonied
H8074
יָשֹׁ֣מּוּ
men shall be astonied
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
1 of 8
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 8
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 8
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
Job anticipates vindication by future witnesses—a theme reaching fulfillment in 42:7-9 when God vindicates Job and condemns his friends. This passage also prophetically points to Christ, the ultimate Innocent One who suffered unjustly and whose righteousness exposes all religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23).
Questions for Reflection
- How should genuinely 'upright' people respond when they witness undeserved suffering?
- What hypocrisies in religious communities should provoke the innocent to 'stir themselves up'?
- In what ways does Job's vindication foreshadow Christ's suffering and ultimate vindication?
Analysis & Commentary
Upright men shall be astonied at this (יָשָׁרִים יָשֹׁמּוּ עַל־זֹאת, yesharim yashommu al-zot)—Yesharim (upright, righteous) are the truly godly, contrasted with Job's judgmental friends. Yashommu (shall be appalled/astonished/desolate) expresses horrified shock. Job prophesies that genuinely righteous observers will be appalled at his undeserved suffering—and perhaps at God's apparent injustice.
And the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite (וְנָקִי עַל־חָנֵף יִתְעֹרָר, ve-naqi al-khanef yit'orer)—Naqi (innocent/clean) will yit'orer (rouse himself, be stirred to action) against the khanef (hypocrite/godless/profane). Job inverts his friends' categories: they are the hypocrites, not him. True righteousness awakens moral outrage against false piety.