What did Job mean when he said “my redeemer lives” in Job 19:25?

Answer

Job 19:25–26 states, “For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (KJV).

Upon initial reading, this verse appears to depict God as the redeemer, His future arrival on earth (potentially in incarnation or triumph), the resurrection of the body, and the hope of eternal life.

The issue with this interpretation lies in its reliance on a comprehensive understanding of Christian doctrine. A fundamental principle in hermeneutics is that a verse cannot convey a meaning to us that would have been impossible for the original audience to grasp. If this verse indeed encapsulates the entirety of Christian doctrine as later expounded in the New Testament, it is truly remarkable, suggesting that Job possessed knowledge surpassing that of his contemporaries and even subsequent prophets. Some may view these verses as indications that certain Old Testament believers, like Job, possessed a profound understanding of future events.

The fact that Job seemed privy to information rarely, if ever, referenced even by later prophets should prompt us to reevaluate the conventional interpretation of his words in Job 19:25. Either the progressive unveiling of biblical truths has been disrupted, or there are translation challenges in Job 19:25 stemming from complex wording in the passage. While most contemporary versions maintain language akin to the KJV translation, they often include footnotes offering alternative interpretations.

By consulting the ESV footnotes, Job 19:25–26 could be understood as follows: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the dust. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet without my flesh I shall see God.”

Referring to the NIV footnotes, the verse could be read as: “I know that my vindicator lives, and that in the end he will stand on my grave. And after I awaken

Yet, even if this body has been destroyed, apart from my flesh I will see God.”

Merely substituting words into a translation based on footnotes is not a reliable methodology, but the exercise helps to demonstrate the challenges encountered in translating these specific verses.

At this point in the book of Job, Job’s friends have been accusing him of committing a great sin that has led God to turn against him. Job expresses his belief that a “kinsman-redeemer” (the same term used for Boaz in the book of Ruth) will come to his rescue. The identity of this kinsman-redeemer is not specified; however, it seems improbable that Job could have anyone in mind other than God Himself. God will act as a witness for Job against his accusers. Therefore, the concept of a “redeemer” does not fully encompass Christian theology, although Christians reflecting on this can certainly discern the origins of that theology in Job.

Moreover, Job confidently anticipates that God will come to vindicate him and stand “on the dust” or “on the earth” or “on the grave.” The Hebrew term used here can signify any of the three, depending on the context. If the word is interpreted as “grave,” then Job expects vindication after death. If “dust” is chosen, then it may imply in this life, indicating that God will appear before him on the very dust heap where he is suffering in agony.

The following challenging term is translated as “destroy” in the KJV. The Hebrew word does not necessarily imply death. If Job is thinking of “total destruction,” then the term would refer to death. If he has “marring” or “damaging” in mind, it could simply mean that Job expects to be vindicated after the physical agony he is enduring has reached its peak. There is nothing in the term that specifies either life or death. An accurate translation could go either way.

The subsequent challenging phrase is “in my flesh” (KJV). Literally, it is “from my flesh” (YLT) and can signify “apart from my flesh” or “from within my flesh.” In other words, valid translations can meanAn almost the opposite of each other. However, there is no indication in this particular passage (or the book, for that matter) that Job expects a bodily resurrection. “I will see God” is Job’s hope whether in his body (in this life) or apart from his body (in the hereafter).

In summary, in verse 25, Job is confident that God will appear and vindicate him from the charges of his friends who are accusing him. In verse 26, Job is confident that he will see God, and he elaborates further on that hope in verse 27. Indeed, Job both sees God and is vindicated at the end of the book.

The way Job 19:25–26 has been used by many Christians is a classic case of teaching the right doctrines from the wrong verses. The full meaning of God as our kinsman-redeemer is New Testament revelation, as is the promise of ultimate vindication after death and the resurrection body (see Romans 8:18-39 and 1 Corinthians 15:42-58).