Job 10:17

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 10:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.
Job 10:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, etc.] Not the devils, as some, nor Job’s friends, as others; but rather afflictions, which were daily renewed, and frequently repeated, new troubles coming continually one upon another; which were brought as fresh witnesses against him, which made the suit tiresome to him, the trial to last the longer, which he wished was at end, that the decisive sentence might be pronounced and executed, and he be dispatched at once; but instead of that the affair was protracted by bringing in one witness after another, or one affliction upon the back of another, which were brought as witnesses “before him” f460, as some render it; either to accuse him, and convince…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“witnesses--His accumulated trials were like a succession of witnesses brought up in proof of his guilt, to wear out the accused. changes and war--rather, "(thou settest in array) against me host after host" (literally, "changes and a host," that is, a succession of hosts); namely, his afflictions, and then reproach upon reproach from his friends.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou renewest thy witnesses against me - Margin, “that is, plagues.” The Hebrew is, “thy witnesses” - עדיך ‛ēdeykā. So the Vulgate. The Septuagint is, “renewing against me my examination,” τὴν ἐξέτασίν μου tēn ecetasin mou. Rabbi Levi supposes that the plague of the leprosy is intended. But the true meaning seems to be, that God sent upon him calamities which were regarded by his friends as “proofs” or “witnesses” that he was wicked, the public and solemn attestation of God, as they supposed, to the truth that he was eminently a bad man. New proofs of this kind were constantly occurring in his augmenting and protracted sorrows, and he could not answer the arguments which were brought…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Witnesses - Thy judgments, which are the evidences both of my sins, and of thy wrath. Indignation - My miseries are the effects of thine anger. Army - Changes may denote the various kinds, and an army the great number of his afflictions. Job 10:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“witnesses: that is, plagues, Job 16:8; Rut 1:21 changes: I am as if attacked by successive troops; if one company be wearied, another succeeds to the attack. Psa 55:19; Jer 48:11; Zep 1:12 war: Job 16:11-16, Job 19:6-11 Job 10:18”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification