Job 17:15 — Word Study
WLCוְ֭אַיֵּה אֵפ֣וֹ תִקְוָתִ֑י וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י מִ֣י יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃
BSAwhereʼayêh [in what place, at what point] thenʼêphôw [at this time, now] is my hopetiqvâh [expectation, cord of attachment] Whomîy [what person, which one] can seeshûwr▸ [observe, behold] any hope for metiqvâh [desire, thing hoped for, on my behalf, in my interest]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְ֭אַיֵּה | and where? | Conjunction, particle |
| אֵפ֣וֹ | then | Particle |
| תִקְוָתִ֑י | [is] hope my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י | and hope my | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| מִ֣י | who? | Pronoun |
| יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃ | will he observe it | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? |
| KJV | And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? |
| ASV | Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it? |
| YLT | And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it? |
| WEB | where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it? |
| BBE | Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire? |
Where they part company is אֵפ֣וֹ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by an interrogative phrase, emphasizing Job's questioning nature.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectמִי
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 17:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Lamentgenerated
Job 17:15 expresses Job's deep sense of hopelessness as he reflects on his suffering. He questions where his hope can be found amidst his despair, illustrating the profound emotional turmoil he faces. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job grapples with his fate and seeks understanding in his suffering, as seen in the preceding verses where he contemplates death and despair.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 4:6 | Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope? |
| 2 | Job 6:11 | What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient? |
| 3 | Job 13:15 | Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. |
| 4 | Job 19:10 | He tears me down on every side until I am gone; He uproots my hope like a tree. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תִקְוָתִי, tik.va.Tigenerated
The noun תִּקְוָה (*tiqvah*) signifies both 'cord' and 'hope,' derived from a root meaning to attach or bind. In this context, it reflects Job's expectation or longing for something better amidst his suffering.
Job's use of this word emphasizes his emotional state; he feels that his hope is fragile and possibly lost. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular noun, suggesting a personal and intimate connection to his sense of hope.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses hope, which aligns with other translations like the KJV and ASV.
Where translations differ is with the word אֵפ֣וֹ — then (ASV, BSB) versus now (KJV, YLT). This distinction reflects different interpretations of Job's temporal focus.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main finite verb is יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה, will he observe it, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a noun phrase for the subject and two clauses providing context and questioning hope.
The word order emphasizes Job's interrogative nature, with the question about hope placed prominently, reflecting his urgent need for answers.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew תִקְוָתִי is rendered as ἐλπίς (*elpis*), which means 'hope.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the sense of expectation.
The Greek word ποῦ (*pou*) translates the Hebrew אַיֵּה (*'ayeh*), indicating a direct inquiry about location, reinforcing Job's search for hope.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 17:15 shows Job questioning where his hope is in the midst of his suffering. He feels a deep sense of despair and wonders if anyone can see any hope for him. This reflects his emotional turmoil and the struggle he faces in his dire situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing his feeling of hopelessness and questioning the existence of any hope in his current suffering.
Job feels isolated in his suffering and is questioning whether anyone can truly understand or perceive the hope he longs for.
This verse captures Job's deep despair and longing for hope, illustrating the emotional weight of his suffering.
The word 'hope' signifies Job's expectation for relief or change in his dire circumstances, highlighting his vulnerability.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I find myself questioning hope in difficult times?
- How can I support others who are feeling hopeless, like Job?
- What does hope mean to me, and how can I cultivate it in my life?
- How can I learn from Job's experience to navigate my own struggles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, interpreting Job's expectation in the context of divine justification.
Ver. 15. Where then is now my expectation? What could be the 'expectation' of the righteous, but God who justifieth the righteous, Who should freely go down to (what was) the punishment of mankind,Early Church Fathers on Job 17 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 17:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd where [is] now my hope?.... Not the grace of hope, which was in his heart; and though it might sometimes be low in exercise, it could not be lost; it is an anchor, sure and steadfast, and is one
Read John Gill on Job 17 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? And where. Where, then is my hope? The apodosis to Job 17:13-14. Who shall see at-fulfilled? namely, the "hope" (Job 11:18) which they held out to him of restoration.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 17 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhere is now my hope? and what then is become of that hope which you advised me to entertain? My hope, i.e. the fulfilling of my hope, or the happiness which you would have me expect; hope being put for the thing hoped for, as . Who shall see it? no man shall see it: it shall never be.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 17 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 17:15 And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?Ver. 15. And where is now my hope? &c.] Heb. And where is my hope? sc. of restoration to my pristine prosperity, which you have so often promised me, who am now ready set upon the confines of death? Job was past the Cape of Good Hope in his own apprehension; but God turned again his captivity, Job 42:10 Qui nihil sperare potest desperet nihil. Who is able to hope for nothing, despairs for nothing. Job did well to propound death to himself, and prepare for it by such a before mentioned familiarity; but yet he should have better thought of the infinite power and goodness of God, who raiseth the dead, and delighteth to help…
Read John Trapp on Job 17 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. And where is now my hope?] In the circumstances in which I am found, of what use can hope be? Were I to form the expectation of future good, who could ever see it realized? Is it then any wonder that I should complain and bemoan my wretched lot?
Read AdamClarke on Job 17 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. If in fact and in his own feeling Job so surely belongs to death, where is the brilliant hope which his friends hold out, and who shall ever see such a hope realized? or, who can perceive a trace of it? His hope in truth is another (Job 17:13).
Read Cambridge on Job 17 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd where is now my hope? - What hope have I of life? What possibility is there of my escape from death? Who shall see it? - That is, who will see any hopes that I may now cherish fulfilled.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 17 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?
where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it?
Tyndale line
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
Where then is my hope? and as for my hope, who shall see it?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who will see it?
Where is then now mine hope? or who shall consider the thing, that I hoped for?
Strictly literal
And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?
And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
And where [is] my hope now? Indeed, my hope, who beholds it?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
From the Latin
Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?
Simplified
So then where is my hope? Can anyone see any hope for me?
Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text matches the Septuagint closely, with five of the six words corresponding directly. The Septuagint's phrasing and word order differ, but the essential meaning remains consistent with the Hebrew.
וְ֭אַיֵּה אֵפ֣וֹ תִקְוָתִ֑י וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י מִ֣י יְשׁוּרֶֽנָּה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 17:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אַיֵּה (*'ayeh*) means "where?" and is used as an interrogative adverb. It can refer to the location of persons or things and may also be used rhetorically. The word is derived from a prolonged form of another root, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage in specific verses.
אַיֵּה 46 interr.adv. Where?
base
H346 אַיֵּה Where?
346 'ayeh ah-yay'
prolonged from 335; where?:--where.
see HEBREW for 0335
אַיֵּה (ay.yeh) — where?.
1) where?
1a) of persons, things
1b) rhetorical
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Ti
אֵפוֹ ('ephow) is a demonstrative particle primarily meaning 'then' or 'now.' It can indicate time or serve as an interrogative. The entries consistently describe its use in contexts of time, such as 'here' or 'where,' but do not provide any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אֵפוֹ, elsewh. אֵפוֹא enclitic part. then
base
H645 אֵפוֹ, elsewh. אֵפוֹא then
645 'ephow ay-fo'
or hephowe {ay-fo'}; from 6311; strictly a demonstrative
particle, here; but used of time, now or then:--here, now,
where?
see HEBREW for 06311
אֵפוֹ (e.pho) — then.
1) then, now, so
1a) (who) then, (what) then (with interrog)
1b) then (with imperative-i.e. know then)
1c) if...then (with adv)
Adv — ParticleHTj
תִּקְוָה (tiqvah) means both 'cord' and 'hope.' It is derived from a root meaning to attach or bind, reflecting a sense of expectancy or longing. The term encompasses concepts of hope, expectation, and the outcomes of what is hoped for, as noted in various lexicons.
[תִּקְוָה] n.f. cord
base
תִּקְוָה 34 n.f. hope
hope
= ground of hope
things hoped for, outcome
base
H8615a תִּקְוָה cord H8615b תִּקְוָה hope . hope
. = ground of hope
. things hoped for, outcome
8615 tiqvah tik-vaw'
from 6960; literally, a cord (as an attachment (compare
6961)); figuratively, expectancy:--expectation ((-ted)),
hope, live, thing that I long for.
see HEBREW for 06960
see HEBREW for 06961
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — cord.
cord
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — hope.
1) hope, expectation
1a) hope
1b) ground of hope
1c) things hoped for, outcome
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
תִּקְוָה (tiqvah) means both 'cord' and 'hope.' It is derived from a root meaning to attach or bind, reflecting a sense of expectancy or longing. The term encompasses concepts of hope, expectation, and the outcomes of what is hoped for, as noted in various lexicons.
[תִּקְוָה] n.f. cord
base
תִּקְוָה 34 n.f. hope
hope
= ground of hope
things hoped for, outcome
base
H8615a תִּקְוָה cord H8615b תִּקְוָה hope . hope
. = ground of hope
. things hoped for, outcome
8615 tiqvah tik-vaw'
from 6960; literally, a cord (as an attachment (compare
6961)); figuratively, expectancy:--expectation ((-ted)),
hope, live, thing that I long for.
see HEBREW for 06960
see HEBREW for 06961
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — cord.
cord
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — hope.
1) hope, expectation
1a) hope
1b) ground of hope
1c) things hoped for, outcome
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about persons, meaning 'who?' or 'whose?'. It can also appear in rhetorical questions and has some idiomatic uses, such as 'who among...?' or 'whosoever'. The word is rarely applied to things, and its forms can vary in emphasis.
מִי 423 pron.interrog. who? of persons
מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied
in the gen. whose
in an indirect qu.
מִי ב׳ who among … ?
strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.
various rhetorical uses whose
מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it
once, following a verb, any one
base
H4310 מִי who? of persons . מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied
. in the gen. whose
. in an indirect qu.
. מִי ב׳ who among … ?
. strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.
. various rhetorical uses whose
. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it
. once, following a verb, any one
4310 miy me
an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things,
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also
(indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction
with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that!
what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.
see HEBREW for 04100
מִי (mi) — who?.
who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Part — PronounHPi
שׁוּר (shuwr) is a primitive root meaning to see or observe. It encompasses a range of actions from simply seeing and regarding to more active forms like spying or lying in wait. The entries suggest a dual focus on both positive observation and negative lurking. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[שׁוּר] vb. behold, regard
behold
regard with watchful care
watch stealthily, lie in wait
ref
H7789 שׁוּר
7789 shuwr shoor
a primitive root (identical with 7788 through the idea of
going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally)
survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for:--behold,
lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see.
see HEBREW for 07788
שׁוּר (shur) — to see.
1) to see, behold, observe, regard
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to behold, observe
1a2) to regard
1a3) to watch, watch (stealthily), lie in wait
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp3fs