Job 19:4 — Word Study
WLCוְאַף־ אָמְנָ֥ם שָׁגִ֑יתִי אִ֝תִּ֗י תָּלִ֥ין מְשׁוּגָתִֽי׃
BSAEven ifʼaph I have truly gone astrayshâgâh■ [assuredly, without a doubt, erred, made a mistake, wandered] my errormᵉshûwgâh△ [mistake, wrongdoing, transgression] concerns melûwn▸ [remains with, is mine alone] aloneʼêth [myself, personally]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאַף־ | and even | Conjunction, particle |
| אָמְנָ֥ם | truly | Adverb |
| שָׁגִ֑יתִי | I have erred | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| אִ֝תִּ֗י | with me | Preposition, suffix |
| תָּלִ֥ין | it lodges | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| מְשׁוּגָתִֽי׃ | error my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone. |
| KJV | And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. |
| ASV | And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself. |
| YLT | And also — truly, I have erred, With me doth my error remain. |
| WEB | If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself. |
| BBE | And, truly, if I have been in error, the effect of my error is only on myself. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of Job's acknowledgment of error — see How Translations Differ.
The verse has two main clauses, with the first introducing a conditional statement that Job uses to assert his personal accountability.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁגָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 19:4
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 Defense Against His Friendsgenerated
Job 19:4 is part of Job's response to his friends who have accused him of wrongdoing. He emphasizes that even if he has made mistakes, the consequences and implications of those errors are his to bear alone, highlighting his personal accountability amidst their reproaches. This passage reflects Job's struggle for justice and understanding in the face of suffering, as he articulates the nature of his errors and their ownership.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 11:3–6 | Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 24:17 | When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” |
| 3 | Proverbs 9:12 | If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 18:4 | Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die. |
| 5 | 2 Corinthians 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מְשׁוּגָתִֽי, me.shu.ga.Tigenerated
The word מְשׁוּגָה (mshuwgah) is a noun meaning 'error' or 'mistake', derived from a root that suggests straying or making a wrong decision. It conveys the sense of a moral or ethical misstep, indicating a failure to act correctly.
In this verse, Job uses it to assert that his error is personal and does not involve others. This highlights his individual responsibility for his actions, emphasizing that any wrongdoing is a matter between him and God.
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.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by the conjunction וְאַף־ (ve.'af-), which introduces a contrast. The first clause states Job's acknowledgment of potential error, while the second emphasizes the personal nature of that error.
The finite verbs שָׁגִ֑יתִי (sha.Gi.ti) and תָּלִ֥ין (ta.Lin) govern the structure, indicating Job's actions and their implications. The overall structure reflects a personal assertion of accountability.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the key word מְשׁוּגָה as πλάνος (planos), which means 'error' or 'deception'. This choice highlights the moral implications of Job's acknowledgment of wrongdoing, suggesting a broader understanding of error that may involve misleading oneself or others.
The Greek rendering indicates a slightly different nuance, emphasizing the nature of error as not just a mistake but potentially a deeper moral failing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 19:4 shows Job defending himself against accusations from his friends. He admits that even if he has made mistakes, those mistakes are his alone to bear. This emphasizes his personal responsibility and the weight of his actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is stating that any mistakes he has made are his personal responsibility, and he does not hold anyone else accountable for them.
Job emphasizes his personal error to assert his integrity and to clarify that his suffering is not necessarily a result of wrongdoing that involves others.
This verse highlights Job's struggle for justice and understanding, as he seeks to defend his character against the accusations of his friends while affirming his personal accountability.
Job's acknowledgment teaches us about the importance of personal responsibility and the need to confront our own mistakes without shifting blame to others.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to take personal responsibility for my actions?
- How can I better acknowledge my mistakes without deflecting blame onto others?
- What does it mean to own my errors in a way that promotes growth and understanding?
- How can I support others in recognizing their own accountability while offering grace?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on Job's words, interpreting them in the context of personal accountability and the nature of suffering.
"And if I—let us suppose—had done things that should not have been done, even if I had been in such a condition, was it not necessary just the same that you felt ashamed while seeing my afflictions, disease,Early Church Fathers on Job 19 →
Job says this as a concession. He always acts in this manner, by multiplying his concessions. He does not allow the discussion to languish on the same point but begins his fight again.Early Church Fathers on Job 19 →
And be it indeed that I have been ignorant, my ignorance remaineth with myself. Heretics have this about them, that they are swoln by the empty pretensions of their knowledge,Early Church Fathers on Job 19 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 19:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd be it indeed [that] I have erred,.... Which is a concession for argument's sake, but not an acknowledgment that he had erred; though it is possible he might have erred, and it is certain he did
Read John Gill on Job 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. Erred. The Hebrew expresses unconscious error [ shaagaah (H7686)]. Job was unconscious of willful sin.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 19 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIf my opinion in this point be faulty and erroneous, as you pretend it is. Or, if I have sinned, (for sin is oft called error in Scripture,) and am therefore punished. Mine error remaineth with myself; either, 1. It is likely to continue, I see no cause from your reasons to change my judgment. Or, 2. I suffer deeply for my sins, and therefore deserve your pity and help, rather than your reproaches, whereby you add affliction to the afflicted.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 19 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 19:4 And be it indeed [that] I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.Ver. 4. And be it indeed that I have erred] Of human frailty; for that there is any way of wickedness in me (as you would have it) I shall never yield. But nimis angusta res est, nuspiam errare. Involuntary failings I am not free from; who knoweth the errors of his life? Psalms 19:12. What man is he that liveth and sinneth not? It is the sad privilege of mortality, saith one, Licere aliquando peccare, to have licence sometimes to sin (Euphorm.). Mine error remaineth with myself] q.d. It is little that you have done toward convincing me of any error in all this time, and talk, which until ye have done, I must…
Read John Trapp on Job 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. And be it indeed that I have erred] Suppose indeed that I have been mistaken in any thing, that in the simplicity of my heart I have gone astray, and that this matter remains with myself, (for most certainly there is no public stain on my life,) you must grant that this error, whatsoever it is, has hurt no person except myself. Why then do ye treat me as a person whose life has been a general blot, and whose example must be a public curse?
Read AdamClarke on Job 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. In this verse Job must mean to repudiate the offences insinuated against him. The precise force of the second clause, however, is obscure. It might mean, “my error is my own and no matter for your intermeddling”; or, “I alone am conscious of it and you can know nothing regarding it,”—in either case a mere passing rejection of the charges of his friends. Or, “had I indeed sinned my error would remain with myself, I should be conscious of it,” cf. ch. 9:36. Ewald’s idea that the “error” which Job alludes to is his mistaken hope of judgment and righteousness on God’s part is less suitable to the connexion.
Read Cambridge on Job 19 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd be it indeed that I have erred - Admitting that I have erred, it is my own concern. You have a right to reproach and revile me in this manner.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 19 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. Remaineth — Literally, Passes the night, úìéï, with me. The busy and absorbing scenes of the day divert the mind from its errors, guilt, and wretchedness.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 19 →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
Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.
If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.
But even if it were true that I have erred, my error remains solely my concern!
Tyndale line
And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.
And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
And be it indeed that I have erred, my error remaineth with myself.
And though I had in deede erred, mine errour remaineth with me.
Strictly literal
And be it [that] I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
And also — truly, I have erred, With me doth my error remain.
And also—truly, I have erred, || My error remains with me.
Yea, if it be indeed that I have erred, let my error remain with myself.
If it is indeed true that I have erred, my error remains my own concern.
From the Latin
For if I have been ignorant, my ignorance shall be with me.
Simplified
Even if I did sin, that's my problem, and has nothing to do with you.
And, truly, if I have been in error, the effect of my error is only on myself.
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 reads: וְאַף־ אָמְנָ֥ם שָׁגִ֑יתִי אִ֝תִּ֗י תָּלִ֥ין מְשׁוּגָתִֽי׃. The Septuagint matches four of the six words in this verse, indicating a close relationship between the two texts, although the word order and specific articles differ.
וְאַף־ אָמְנָ֥ם שָׁגִ֑יתִי אִ֝תִּ֗י תָּלִ֥ין מְשׁוּגָתִֽי׃
4 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 19:4
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 אַף (aph) is a conjunction that indicates addition, often implying something greater. It can mean 'also,' 'yea,' or 'though,' and is used to connect ideas in a sentence. The entries highlight its use as both an adverb and conjunction, with a focus on its additive nature.
אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
base
H637 אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
637 'aph af
a primitive particle; meaning accession (used as an adverb or
conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though:--also, +
although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less
(more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.
אַף (aph) — also.
conj (denoting addition, esp of something greater)
1) also, yea, though, so much the more
adv
2) furthermore, indeed
Aramaic equivalent: aph (אַף "also" H0638)
Conj | Adv — Conjunction · particleHC/Tj
אָמְנָם (omnam) is an adverb meaning 'verily' or 'truly,' used to affirm statements with certainty. It is derived from the root word for 'truth' and conveys a sense of assurance or emphasis in assertions. The entries consistently highlight its use in affirmations, but there are no notable disagreements among the lexicons.
אָמְנָם adv. (= אֻמְנָם) verily, truly, in asseverations
base
H551 אָמְנָם verily, truly, in asseverations
551 'omnam om-nawm'
adverb from 544; verily:--indeed, no doubt, surely, (it is,
of a) true(-ly, -th).
see HEBREW for 0544
אׇמְנָם (om.nam) — truly.
verily, truly, surely
HD — AdverbHD
שָׁגָה (shagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stray or err, often in a moral or mental sense. It can refer to wandering off course, committing sins of ignorance, or leading others astray. The entries highlight its use in both a literal and figurative context, including the idea of intoxication or being enraptured.
[שָׁגָה] vb. go astray, err
Qal
err, stray, of flock
swerve, meander, reel or roll
go astray
specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence
Hiph. lead astray
lit.
mentally = mislead
morally
base
H7686 [שָׁגָה] go astray, err .. err, stray, of flock
. swerve, meander, reel or roll
. go astray
. specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence
. lead astray . lit.
. mentally = mislead
. morally
7686 shagah shaw-gaw'
a primitive root; to stray (causatively, mislead), usually
(figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress;
by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel,
(figuratively) be enraptured:--(cause to) go astray, deceive,
err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to)
wander.
שָׁגָה (sha.gah) — to wander.
1) to go astray, stray, err
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to err, stray
1a2) to swerve, meander, reel, roll, be intoxicated, err (in drunkenness)
1a3) to go astray (morally)
1a4) to commit sin of ignorance or inadvertence, err (ignorantly)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead astray
1b2) to lead astray, mislead (mentally)
1b3) to lead astray (morally)
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.
אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity
Of companionship, together with
Of localities
אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially
in one's possession or keeping
in one's knowledge or memory
מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
base
H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with
. Of localities
. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping
. in one's knowledge or memory
. מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
854 'eth ayth
probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a
preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,
at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,
in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional
prefix.
see HEBREW for 0579
אֵת (et) — with.
1) with, near, together with
1a) with, together with
1b) with (of relationship)
1c) near (of place)
1d) with (poss.)
1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
לוּן (luwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lodge or pass the night, and it can also imply abiding or remaining. It has a negative connotation when referring to murmuring or complaining. The word can be used in various forms, including Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpalpel, indicating different nuances of lodging and grumbling.
לוּן, לִין vb. lodge, pass the night, fig. abide
Qal
lodge, pass the night
fig. abide, remain
Hiph. cause to rest, lodge
Hithpalp. dwell, abide, of eagle
base
[לוּן] vb. murmur
Niph. murmur against
Hiph. murmur; cause to murmur
base
H3885a לוּן, לִין lodge, pass the night, fig. abide H3885b לוּן murmur
3885 luwn loon
or liyn {leen}; a primitive root; to stop (usually over
night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad
sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to
complain):--abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure,
grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night,
in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all
night, that night).
לוּן (lun) — to lodge.
1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lodge, pass the night
1a2) to abide, remain (fig.)
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest, lodge
1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide
לוּן (lun) — to grumble.
1) to grumble, complain, murmur
1a) (Niphal) to grumble, murmur
1b) (Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
מְשׁוּגָה (mshuwgah) means 'error' and is derived from a root that suggests straying or making a mistake. The term appears in the context of Job 19:4, where it is used to denote a mistake or error.
[מְשׁוּגָה] n.f. error;—sf. Jb 19:4
ref
H4879 מְשׁוּגָה
4879 mshuwgah mesh-oo-gaw'
from an unused root meaning to stray; mistake:--error.
מְשׁוּגָה (me.shu.gah) — error.
error
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs