Job 19:25

"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that at last, he shall stand upon the earth."

The importance of this verse justifies a glance at the way different versions have rendered it.

"I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." - KJV

"I know that my redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth." - RSV.

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth." - the New RSV.

"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth." - Douay.

"Still, I know One to champion me at last, to stand up for me on earth." - Moffatt.

"I know there is someone to defend me. I know he lives! And in the end he will stand here on the earth." - NIV.

"But I know that my vindicator liveth, and that hereafter he will stand upon the dust." - S. R. Driver in International Critical Commentary.

All of these seven additional versions say everything that is affirmed in the one we follow, namely, the American Standard Version. Even some who did not capitalize the reference to the Redeemer, nevertheless place him in heaven, or place his appearance "in the end" "at last," or "in the latter day," any one of which words makes that `someone' undeniably a supernatural person.

There are epic corollaries that automatically spin off from these words: (1) Since Job visualizes his vindication as coming in the "last day," he believed in the resurrection of the dead. The critical canard that the resurrection is "a late Jewish doctrine" is not true. Even Abraham believed in the resurrection of the dead (Hebrews 11:19). (2) The doctrine of the Incarnation is also inherent in the revelation that, "The Redeemer," that "someone," that heavenly Person shall "Stand"! upon the earth. (3) God's interest in his human creation is yet another. "There is a Redeemer provided for fallen man."[9] (4) Yet again, the ultimate victory of Christ over all his enemies is inherent in these glorious words. "And He shall stand upon the earth (the dust, literally)." And what is that dust? All of the enemies of Christ shall at last be as dust under his feet. "He shall stand"! This means his word shall stand; his authority shall stand; his name shall stand. (5) There is also the corollary of the Redeemer's eternity in this. Job said, "He lives." But he will also be there, at "the latter day," "in the end," etc. "He is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Who is this Redeemer which Job mentioned here? Only a fool could miss his identity.

"In Job 9:33, Job had already mentioned an Umpire between himself and God, who certainly could not have been any other than a Divine Person; and in 16:19 he declared his conviction that `His Witness' is in heaven; and in 5:16:21 he mentioned an Advocate who would plead his case with God. Thus, prior to the glorious climax reached in these verses, Job had already recognized God as his Judge, his Witness, his Advocate, and his Surety, in some of these passages by formal announcement of the fact, and in others by his earnest longing for, and anticipation of, Someone who would act in such capacities."[10] After all this, what kind of simpleton could wonder whom he meant by "MY REDEEMER" in Job 19:25?

Another question which demands our attention here is this: "By what means did Job come to have possession of such epic Truth as that which shines in these verses"? We reject out of hand the supposition that, "It seems probable that we have in this passage another one of Job's statements in which he seems to be feeling toward immortality."[11] No! A thousand times, No! If all Job was doing was "feeling his way" toward some great understanding of Truth, his words here are not worth the paper they are written on.

As laid out in our Introduction to this book, "Job was under the impulse of the Blessed Spirit."[12] As Adam Clarke accurately stated it, "There is one principle, without which no interpretation (of this passage) can have any weight; and that principle is this: Job was now under the special inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and spoke prophetically."[13]