I would still dread all my sufferings;
Job expresses a deep sense of fear and anxiety about his ongoing afflictions. This reflects the human condition of suffering and the struggle to understand divine justice. In the context of the Book of Job, Job's sufferings are both physical and emotional, as he has lost his wealth, children, and health. The dread he feels is compounded by the belief that his suffering is undeserved, which is a central theme in the book. This phrase highlights the existential dread that can accompany intense suffering, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, such as in the Psalms where David often laments his own distress (e.g., Psalm 22).

I know that You will not acquit me.
Job acknowledges his belief that God will not declare him innocent. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine justice, where the gods were often seen as inscrutable and their judgments final. Job's statement is a profound expression of his struggle with the concept of divine justice, as he feels that despite his righteousness, he cannot be acquitted by God. This connects to the broader biblical narrative of the need for a mediator between God and man, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the one who justifies and acquits believers through His sacrifice (Romans 8:33-34). Job's longing for acquittal foreshadows the ultimate redemption and justification found in Christ.

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest for understanding God's justice.

2. God
The Almighty Creator, whom Job addresses in his lament. Job struggles to understand God's justice and sovereignty in the midst of his suffering.

3. Job's Sufferings
The series of calamities that befall Job, including the loss of his children, wealth, and health, which lead him to question the nature of divine justice.

4. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who attempt to explain Job's suffering through traditional wisdom, often suggesting that Job's suffering is a result of sin.

5. The Heavenly Court
The setting at the beginning of the Book of Job where God and Satan discuss Job's faithfulness, leading to the trials Job faces.Understanding Suffering
Job's statement reflects the human struggle to comprehend suffering. It is important to acknowledge that suffering is a complex issue that may not always have clear answers.

God's Justice and Sovereignty
Job's fear that God will not acquit him highlights the tension between human understanding and divine justice. Believers are called to trust in God's perfect justice, even when it is not immediately apparent.

Faith in Trials
Despite his fear and confusion, Job continues to engage with God. This teaches us the importance of maintaining faith and communication with God during difficult times.

The Role of Fear
Job's dread of his sufferings can remind us of the importance of casting our fears upon God, who cares for us and understands our struggles.

The Limitations of Human Wisdom
Job's friends offer explanations based on human wisdom, which ultimately fall short. This encourages believers to seek divine wisdom and understanding through prayer and Scripture.Verse 28. - I am afraid of all my sorrows (see the comment on ver. 27). I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. The worst of all Job's sorrows is the sense of alienation from God, which his unexampled sufferings have wrought in him. Though unconscious of having deserved them, he still, not unnaturally, looks upon them as marks of God s displeasure, proofs that God does not regard him as innocent.

Parallel Commentaries ...


I would still dread
יָגֹ֥רְתִּי (yā·ḡō·rə·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3025: To be afraid, fear

all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

my sufferings;
עַצְּבֹתָ֑י (‘aṣ·ṣə·ḇō·ṯāy)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6094: A idol, a pain, wound

I know
יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

You will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

acquit me.
תְנַקֵּֽנִי׃ (ṯə·naq·qê·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated


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OT Poetry: Job 9:28 I am afraid of all my sorrows (Jb)