Job 16:19

Job 16:19

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

a. NLT: Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high.

b. NIV: Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.

c. YLT: Also, now, lo, in the heavens is my witness, And my testifier in the high places.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high.

e. Septuagint: And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Even now my Witness is in heaven, my Attester is on high.

1. “Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven…”

a. Also [Strong: 1571 gam gam by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather; properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and:--again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.]

b. now [Strong: 6258 `attah at-taw' from 6256; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive:--henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.]

c. behold [Strong: 2009 hinneh hin-nay' prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.]

d. my witness [Strong: 5707 `ed ayd contracted from 5749 ; concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince:--witness.]

e. [is in] heaven [Strong: 8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).]

2. “…and my record is on high.”

a. [and my] record [Strong: 7717 sahed saw-hade' from an unused root meaning to testify; a witness:--record.]

b. [is] on high [Strong: 4791 marowm maw-rome' from 7311; altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft):--(far) above, dignity, haughty, height, (most, on) high (one, place), loftily, upward.]

1). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional. 7/23/11It is significant that here, in what is probably the oldest book in the Bible, two vitally important New Testament truths are anticipated. Job somehow knew that he (and, by implication, every other person as well) has a "record" in heaven. This is the only occurrence of this word (sahed) in the Bible, but it basically means that our works, good or bad, have been recorded by God in heaven concerning how we have used or abused our stewardship here on earth. And the record, inevitably, testifies against us, "for there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). At God's future throne of judgment, when "the dead |are| judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works," then "whosoever |is| not found written in the book of life |is| cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12). But how can we know that our names will be in God's book of life in that day? Thankfully, even Job knew, in his long-ago time, that "my witness is in heaven." Here the word (Hebrew ed) speaks of a formal personal witness who can testify on our behalf, one who "might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!" (Job16:21). Job somehow knew that such a witness was there, for he could also say, "I know that my redeemer liveth" (Job 19:25). In the light of the New Testament record, we know that this Redeemer and Witness is none other than the Lord Jesus. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:1, 2). That is, He is the "sacrifice" for our sins, and thus can redeem us from sin's penalty, and thereby serve as our defense witness in heaven. Our record of sin and guilt has been washed clean with the precious blood of Christ. HMM