Job 19:25-27 is Job’s declaration that, even in the depths of suffering, he knows his Redeemer is alive and that he will one day see God on his side. It is one of the most hopeful statements in the book, spoken by a man who has just been abandoned by friends and accused by them of hiding sin.
Job is sitting in ash, covered with sores, and his friends have been arguing that his calamities must come from wrongdoing. In chapter 19 he complains that God has turned against him and that everyone has deserted him. Then, in the middle of that despair, he speaks these words.
25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. 26 After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God, 27 Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.
Job 19:25-27 (WEB)
Job 19:25-27 Summary
Job begins with a firm statement of personal conviction: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” He then says that this Redeemer will eventually stand upon the earth, which suggests a vindication that happens in the open, in full view of the world, rather than in a hidden or private way.
Next Job looks beyond his present body. After his skin has been destroyed, he expects to see God with his own eyes, and he insists that this sight will be personal and not that of a stranger. The passage ends with his heart being consumed with longing, showing how much this hope means to him.
Context of Job 19:25-27
The Book of Job is traditionally attributed to Moses, though its author is unknown and many scholars date its final form to a later period. It is written in a poetic style, mostly in dialogue between Job, his three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, and eventually God. Its audience was originally the people of Israel and the wider community that read wisdom literature.
The verses just before this passage show Job pleading for his words to be recorded permanently, perhaps because he expects to be vindicated after death. The verses that follow shift to a warning for his friends to fear judgment, so Job’s confession of hope sits at the turning point between his grief and his accusations against his accusers.
Job 19:25-27 Verse by Verse
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(WEB)
Paul’s list of things that cannot separate believers from God’s love echoes Job’s confidence that nothing can finally sever him from his Redeemer. Both passages rest hope on God’s faithful nature rather than on present circumstances.
Psalm 62:1-2
1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress— I will never be greatly shaken.
(WEB)
The psalmist speaks of waiting quietly for God as the source of salvation and refuge. Like Job, he places his security in God alone, even when surrounded by threats and shaken by trouble.
A Prayer Based on Job 19:25-27
Lord, you know how heavy my heart feels today. Some of my questions have no answers yet, and some of my friends have stopped understanding me. I bring you my confusion and my tiredness without pretending they are not there.
Yet I want to hold on to what I know about you. You are my Redeemer, and you are alive. Help me trust that you will act in your time and that I will one day see your faithfulness clearly. Keep my heart anchored in you while I wait. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “my Redeemer lives” mean in Job 19:25?
The word Redeemer refers to a close family member who protects and defends his relative. Job is saying that he trusts God to act in that protective role, even though his present circumstances look hopeless.
Is Job 19:25-27 talking about resurrection?
Many readers see a hope of resurrection here, especially verse 26, but the meaning is debated. Job certainly expects to see God personally and to be vindicated, which is a powerful hope in its own right.
How can I use Job 19:25-27 when I feel abandoned?
You can speak honestly to God about your pain while also declaring what you know about his character. Job’s example shows that faith and complaint can exist together in prayer.
