Job 19:5

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 19:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;
Job 19:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If indeed ye will magnify [yourselves] against me, etc.] Look and talk big, set up themselves for great folk, and resolve to run him down; open their mouths wide against him and speak great swelling words in a blustering manner; or magnify what they called an error in him, and set it out in the worst light they could: and plead against me my reproach; his affliction which he was reproached with, and was pleaded against him as an argument of his being a wicked man; if therefore they were determined to go on after this manner, and insist on this kind of proof, then he would have them take what follows.”
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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
“magnify, &c.--Speak proudly (Oba 1:12; Eze 35:13). against me--emphatically repeated (Psa 38:16). plead . . . reproach--English Version makes this part of the protasis, "if" being understood, and the apodosis beginning at Job 19:6. Better with UMBREIT, If ye would become great heroes against me in truth, ye must prove (evince) against me my guilt, or shame, which you assert. In the English Version "reproach" will mean Job's calamities, which they "pleaded" against him as a "reproach," or proof of guilt.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If, indeed, ye will magnify yourselves against me - This is connected with the next verse. The sense is, “all these calamities came from God. He has brought them upon me in a sudden and mysterious manner. In these circumstances you ought to have pity upon me; Job 19:21. Instead of magnifying yourselves against me, setting yourselves up as censors and judges, overwhelming me with reproaches and filling my mind with pain and anguish, you ought to show to me the sympathy of a friend.” The phrase, “magnify yourselves,” refers to the fact that they had assumed a tone of superiority and an authoritative manner, instead of showing the compassion due to a friend in affliction. And plead against me…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“magnify: Psa 35:26, Psa 38:16, Psa 41:11, Psa 55:12; Mic 7:8; Zep 2:10; Zac 12:7 plead: Sa1 1:6; Neh 1:3; Isa 4:1; Luk 1:25, Luk 13:2-4; Joh 9:2, Joh 9:34 Job 19:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification