Job 17:8

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 17:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
Job 17:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Upright men shall be astonished at this, etc.] Such as were upright in heart, and in their walk conversation, sincere and honourable in their profession of religion, these would be amazed at the afflictions of Job, and the unkindness of his friends; it is hereby suggested, that it would be then, and in ages to come, a matter of surprise to truly gracious persons, when they should hear of such sore afflictions laid upon so good a man, and he told what censures, calumnies, and reproaches, were cast upon him by his friends; this would be so astonishing, that they would not know how to believe it, and still more at a loss how to account for it, that such things should be permitted in Providence,…”
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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
“astonied--at my unmerited sufferings. against the hypocrite--The upright shall feel their sense of justice wounded ("will be indignant") because of the prosperity of the wicked. By "hypocrite" or "ungodly," he perhaps glances at his false friends.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Upright men shall be astonished at this - At the course of events in regard to me. They will be amazed that God has suffered a holy man to be plunged into such calamities, and to be treated in this manner by his friends. The fact at which he supposes they would be so much astonished was, that the good were afflicted in this manner, and that no relief was furnished. And the innocent shall stir up himself - Shall rouse himself, or assume vigor to resist the wicked. The hypocrite - The wicked - alluding probably to his professed friends. The idea of hypocrisy which the sentence conveys arises from the fact, that they professed to be “his” friends, and had proved to be false; and that they had…”
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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
“Astonied - At the depth and mysteriousness of God's judgments, which fall on innocent men, while the worst of men prosper. Yet - Notwithstanding all these sufferings of good men, and the astonishment which they cause, he shall the more zealously oppose those hypocrites, who make these strange providences of God an objection to religion. Job 17:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:8-9 Some scholars view these verses as being out of place, but perhaps Job was ironically quoting his opponents’ words.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“astonied: Psa 73:12-15; Ecc 5:8; Hab 1:13; Rom 11:33 stir up: Job 34:30; Act 13:46 Job 17:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification