Job 6:28

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 6:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.
Job 6:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now therefore be content, etc.] Or, “may it now please you” f281; Job addresses them in a respectful manner, and entreats them they would be so kind as to look favourably on him, and entertain better thoughts of him; and give a fresh and friendly hearing of his case, when he doubted not he should be acquitted by them of the charge of iniquity, and that his cause would appear to be a righteous one: look upon me: upon my countenance; and see if you can find any traces of fear and falsehood, of dishonesty and hypocrisy, of shame and blushing; and observe if there is not all the appearance of an honest mind, of a good conscience within, that has nothing to fear from the strictest examination; or…”
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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
“be content--rather, "be pleased to"--look. Since you have so falsely judged my words, look upon me, that is, upon my countenance: for (it is evident before your faces) if I lie; my countenance will betray me, if I be the hypocrite that you suppose.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Now, therefore, be content - Rosenmuller has better rendered this, “if it please you.” The sense is, “if you are willing, look upon me.” That is, “if you are disposed, you may take a careful view of me. Look me in the countenance. You can see for yourselves whether I am sincere or false. I am willing that my whole demeanor should be subjected to the utmost scrutiny.” For it is evident unto you if I lie - Margin, as in Hebrew before your face. That is, “you yourselves can see by my whole demeanor, by my sufferings, my patience, my manifest sincerity, that I am not playing the hypocrite.” Conscious of sincerity, he believed that if they would look upon him, they would be convinced that he was…”
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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
“Look - Consider my cause better than you have done, that you may give a more righteous judgment. Evident - You will plainly discover it. Job 6:29”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“evident unto you: Heb. before your face if I lie: Job 11:3, Job 13:4 Job 6:29”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“28 And now be pleased to observe me keenly, I will not indeed deceive you to your face. 29 Try it again, then: let there be no injustice; Try it again, my righteousness still stands. 30 Is there wrong on my tongue? Or shall not my palate discern iniquity? He begs them to observe him more closely; בּ פּנה, as Ecc 2:11, to observe scrutinizingly. אם is the sign of negative asseveration (Ges. 155, 2, f). He will not indeed shamelessly give them the lie, viz., in respect to the greatness and inexplicableness of his suffering. The challenging שׁוּבוּ we do not translate: retrace your steps, but: begin afresh, to which both the following clauses are better suited. So Schlottm. and von Gerlach.…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification