Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 27 contains Job's last formal-discourse before his summary-defense (chapters 29–31). Job swears-by-God an-oath-of-innocence (vv. 2–6) and then, paradoxically, agrees-with-the-friends about-the-fate-of-the-wicked (vv. 13–23). Some scholars conjecture vv. 13–23 are misplaced-Zophar (since Zophar gets-no-third-speech), but the canonical-form has-Job-speaking-them.
Notable Variants
27:5 'till I die I will not put away my integrity from me' — Job's central oath; 27:6 'my heart does not reproach me' clear-conscience claim; 27:13–23 wicked-fate description traditionally attributed to-Zophar's missing-third-speech.
Structural Notes
MT Job 27 = LXX Job 27. 23 verses.
And Job again took up his discourse and said:
'And Job again took up his discourse, and said' tracks MT.
As God lives — who has denied me justice — and the Almighty — who has made my soul bitter —
'As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter' tracks MT. AS-GOD-LIVES — solemn-oath formula.
for as long as my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils —
'As long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils' tracks MT. SPIRIT-OF-GOD-IN-MY-NOSTRILS. Genesis 2:7 echo — divine-breath as life-source.
my lips will never speak falsehood, and my tongue will never utter deceit.
'My lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit' tracks MT.
Far be it from me to say you are right! Until I die I will not surrender my integrity.
'Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me' tracks MT. INTEGRITY-TO-DEATH oath. The book's pivotal-claim — Job's-integrity stands.
My righteousness I grip and will not release. My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.
'I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days' tracks MT. HEART-DOES-NOT-REPROACH-ME. 1 John 3:21 ('if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God') extends.
Let my enemy be treated as the wicked, and the one who rises against me as the unrighteous.
'Let my enemy be as the wicked, and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous' tracks MT.
For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
'For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?' tracks MT.
Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
'Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?' tracks MT.
Does he delight in the Almighty? Does he call on God at all times?
'Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?' tracks MT.
I will teach you about the hand of God; what the Almighty does, I will not hide.
'I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal' tracks MT.
You have all seen this yourselves — so why do you keep spouting emptiness?
'Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?' tracks MT.
This is the portion God assigns to the wicked, the inheritance tyrants receive from the Almighty:
'This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty' tracks MT. WICKED-PORTION description begins (vv. 13–23). // Job 20:29 (Zophar's-second-speech). The recycled-content suggests this section may belong to-Zophar's-missing-third-speech.
If his children multiply, the sword awaits them; his offspring will not have enough bread.
'If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his descendants have not enough bread' tracks MT.
Those who survive him are buried by plague; his widows do not weep.
'Those who survive him the pestilence buries, and his widows do not weep' tracks MT.
Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles garments high as clay —
'Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay' tracks MT.
He prepares it — but the righteous will wear it; the innocent will divide his silver.
'He may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver' tracks MT. RIGHTEOUS-WILL-WEAR — eschatological-wealth-transfer (// Prov 13:22, Eccl 2:26).
He builds his house like a moth's cocoon, like a shelter a watchman throws together.
'He builds his house like a moth's, like a booth that a watchman makes' tracks MT.
He goes to bed rich but will not do so again; he opens his eyes — and everything is gone.
'He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone' tracks MT. WEALTH-GONE-OVERNIGHT — Luke 12:20 (rich-fool: 'this night your soul is required of you') extends.
Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind steals him away in the night.
'Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off' tracks MT.
The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him from his place.
'The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place' tracks MT.
It hurls itself at him without pity; he flees headlong from its power.
'It hurls at him without pity; he flees from its power in headlong flight' tracks MT.
It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
'It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place' tracks MT. HISSING-AT-HIM — public-derision response.