where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?
Job has just called the grave his house, his bed a bed in darkness, corruption his father and the worm his mother. From that bed he asks where his hope is now, and who will ever see it.
The question of a man who had settled on dying
Job asks his question only after he has made up his mind to die. One writer follows the picture down to where Job's hope ends: in the dust, with Job himself.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinAnd what is his hope now? How dark and evil his thoughts! The grave is to be his house, the darkness his bed. Corruption, his father, the worm his mother and his sister. He and his hope will go down to the bars of the pit, and rest together in the dust. But we shall soon hear another confession from his lips.
The words behind the picture
Job's despair covers both his body and his soul. Older versions read "grave" in verse 13 and "pit" in verse 16, where the ESV keeps the Hebrew word Sheol.
F. B. HoleAs to his poor body, only corruption and the worm were before him, when his soul would be in the unseen world. The word translated "grave" in verse 13 and the word translated "pit" in verse 16 are the same Hebrew word, sheol. It matches the Greek word hades, used in the New Testament. This sad lament might well have touched the hearts of his friends.
A question that proves his conscience, not his guilt
The friends were sure Job was hiding some sin. If that were true, the last thing he would want is to die. Instead he longs for it — and that longing answers the charge against him better than any argument could.
William KellyA bad conscience would have shrunk from death, as the thing that strips away all disguise and destroys the soul. Job did the opposite. His earnest desire to depart and be with God proved that he was real, and showed the state of his conscience too. We see his confidence in God then, even while he spreads out his sorrows, with no other thought than death before him.
Two kinds of hope
The friends had been holding out a bright future to Job on one condition: admit the sin they assumed was there. Job answers that his hope, if he has one, lives in a grave. The same writer then sets that beside the hope Christians hold.
William KellyHe had made up his mind for death, as well as the complete collapse of every plan he had cherished. His friends might hold out fresh and bright prospects if he would repent. They called night day, and made light seem near in the middle of deep darkness. But if he was to hope, the grave was his house, his bed spread in darkness, corruption and the worm his nearest relatives. Where, then, was his hope? Yes, his hope — who sees it?... How blessed is the contrast between such gloomy words of a saint and the strong encouragement we have! We have fled for refuge to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have that hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. It enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone in ahead of us as a forerunner. He has become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek!
Not the last word
This verse sits inside a larger movement in the book. Job is not left where chapter 17 leaves him. His slow climb out is part of God's answer to Satan's accusation.
Samuel RidoutThe friends start with some courtesy and kindness. From there they are carried on into more and more suspicion, harshness and condemnation. Job, on the other hand, was overwhelmed at first. Little by little he finds a footing for his faith, and comes out of despair into some measure of hope. So he answers Satan's accusation, and his faith vindicates God.
Commentators differ in tone here. One calls the thoughts behind this question dark and evil. Another sees confidence in God underneath the same words.
Summary
- Question — Job asks where his hope is from a bed he has already made in darkness, with corruption and the worm as his closest family.
- Grave — "Grave" and "pit" both point to the unseen world of the dead. Job expects his hope to go down there and rest with him in the dust.
- Conscience — His longing to die is the strongest evidence against his friends' charge. A guilty man dreads death; Job wanted it.
- Anchor — The hope Job could not see is given to believers as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. It is fixed where Jesus has already gone ahead.
- Answer — The book does not leave him here. Out of despair Job rises to hope, and his faith becomes God's reply to the accuser.