Job 19:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 19:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
Job 19:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly 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
“These ten times have ye reproached me, etc.] Referring not to ten sections or paragraphs, in which they had done it, as Jarchi; or to the five speeches his friends, in which their reproaches were doubled; or to Job’s words, and their answer, as Saadiah; for it does not denote an exact number of their reproaches, which Job was not so careful to count; but it signifies that he had been many times reproached by them; so Aben Ezra, and in which sense the phrase is often used, (see <013107>Genesis 31:7) (<041422>Numbers 14:22); it is the lot of good men in all ages to be reproached by carnal and profane sinners, on account of religion, and for righteousness’ sake, as Christians are for the sake…”
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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
“These--prefixed emphatically to numbers (Gen 27:36). ten--that is, often (Gen 31:7). make yourselves strange--rather, "stun me" [GESENIUS]. (See Margin for a different meaning [that is, "harden yourselves against me"]).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“These ten times - Many times; the word “ten” being used as we often say, “ten a dozen” or “twenty,” to denote many; see Genesis 31:7, “And your father hath changed my wages “ten times.” Leviticus 26:26, “and when I have broken your staff of bread, “ten women” shall bake your bread, in one oven;” compare Numbers 14:22; Nehemiah 4:6. You are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me - Margin, “harden yourselves strange to me.” Margin, “harden yourselves against me.” Gesenius, and after him Noyes, renders this, “Shameless ye stun me.” Wemyss, “Are ye not ashamed to treat me thus cruelly? The word used here (הכר hâkar) occurs no no where else, and hence, it is difficult to determine…”
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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
“Ten - Many times. A certain number for an uncertain. Strange - That you carry yourselves like strangers to me, and condemn me as if you had never known my integrity. Job 19:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“19:3 The number ten did not represent a specific count but an indefinite large number (e.g., Gen 31:7; Lev 26:26; Num 14:22; Dan 1:20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ten times: Gen 31:7; Lev 26:26; Num 14:22; Neh 4:12; Dan 1:20 ye reproached: Job 4:6-11, Job 5:3, Job 5:4, Job 8:4-6, Job 11:3, Job 11:14, Job 15:4-6, Job 15:11, Job 15:12, 18:4-21 make yourselves strange to me: or, harden yourselves against me, Job 19:17; Gen 42:7; Psa 69:8 Job 19:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification