Job 19:5
If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 7
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עָלַ֣י
H5921
עָלַ֣י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 7
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
תַּגְדִּ֑ילוּ
ye will magnify
H1431
תַּגְדִּ֑ילוּ
ye will magnify
Strong's:
H1431
Word #:
4 of 7
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
וְתוֹכִ֥יחוּ
yourselves against me and plead
H3198
וְתוֹכִ֥יחוּ
yourselves against me and plead
Strong's:
H3198
Word #:
5 of 7
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
Cross References
Psalms 38:16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.Psalms 55:12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:Psalms 35:26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
Historical Context
In honor-shame cultures of the ancient Near East, reproach (cherpah) meant social death. Job's friends add theological condemnation to his social humiliation, making themselves judges rather than advocates—the opposite of Christ, who bore our reproach (Hebrews 13:13).
Questions for Reflection
- How can suffering become an opportunity for others to 'magnify themselves' through spiritual superiority?
- In what ways do Christians sometimes use others' pain to validate their own theological systems?
- How does Jesus's bearing of our reproach model the opposite approach to Job's friends?
Analysis & Commentary
If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me (אִם־אָמְנָם עָלַי תַּגְדִּילוּ, im-'omnam 'alay tagdilu)—The verb גָּדַל (gadal, 'to magnify/make great') in the Hiphil stem means 'to exalt oneself.' Job accuses his friends of using his suffering to elevate their own righteousness—a devastating critique of their motives.
And plead against me my reproach (וְתוֹכִיחוּ עָלַי חֶרְפָּתִי, wetokhichu 'alay cherpati)—The verb יָכַח (yakach) means 'to prove, argue, reprove.' His friends treat his חֶרְפָּה (cherpah, 'disgrace/shame') as forensic evidence of guilt. Job exposes the cruelty of their 'comfort'—they're weaponizing his pain to vindicate their theology.