Job 19:15

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 19:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.
Job 19:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They that dwell in mine house, etc.] Not his neighbours, as the Septuagint; for though they dwelt near his house, they did not dwell in it; nor inmates and sojourners, lodgers with him, to whom he let out apartments in his house; this cannot be supposed to have been his case, who was the greatest man in all the east; nor even tenants, that hired houses and lands of him; for the phrase is not applicable to them; it designs such who were inhabitants in his house. Job amidst all his calamities had an house to dwell in; it is a tradition mentioned by Jerom f732, that Job’s house was in Carnea, a large village in his time, in a corner of Batanea, beyond the floods of Jordan; and he had people…”
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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
“They that dwell, &c.--rather, "sojourn": male servants, sojourning in his house. Mark the contrast. The stranger admitted to sojourn as a dependent treats the master as a stranger in his own house.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They that dwell in mine house - The trials came to his very dwelling, and produced a sad estrangement there. The word used here גרי gārēy from גוּר gûr means properly those who “sojourn” in a house for a little time. It may refer to guests, strangers, servants, clients, or tenants. The essential idea is, that they were not “permanent” residents, though for a time they were inmates of the family. Jerome renders the place, “Inquilini domus meoe - the tenants of my house.” The Septuagint, Γείτονες οἰχιάς Geitones oikias - neighbors. Schultens supposes it means “clients,” or those who were taken under the protection of a great man. He quotes from the Arabian poets to show that the word is…”
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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
“Maids - Who by reason of their sex, commonly have more compassionate hearts than men. Job 19:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“dwell: Job 19:16-19 count me: Job 31:31, Job 31:32; Psa 123:3 Job 19:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification