Job 19:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job pleads twice for his friends' pity, since the hand of God has struck him.
What Does Job 19:21 Mean?
The repeated cry, have pity upon me, have pity upon me, is the heart of Job's appeal, a plea wrung out of unbearable pain. He asks not for agreement or argument but simply for mercy, for the hand of God has touched him in affliction. He longs for compassion from the friends who have given him only blame.
This twice-spoken plea is one of the most poignant in Scripture, the sound of a sufferer begging to be met with tenderness. It rebukes every cold and clinical response to pain, and it draws us toward the heart of God, who is rich in mercy and full of compassion. The Lord does not despise the plea of the afflicted; he draws near, and he calls his people to do the same.
Job 19:21 in the Original Language
chanan (חָנַן), 'have pity' -- to show favor or grace, to bend toward another in mercy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 19:21
What does Job 19:21 mean?
Job pleads twice for his friends' pity, since the hand of God has struck him.