Job 19:25

My redeemer. This is one of the most frequently quoted texts in the book. It represents a significant advance in Job’s progress from despair to confidence and hope. “From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God” (PK 163). The Hebrew word translated “redeemer,” go’el, is rendered “avenger,” or “revenger” (Num. 35:12, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27), and kinsman, or near kinsman (Ruth 2:20; 3:9, 12; 4:1, 3, 6, 8, 14; see on Ruth 2:20).

God is frequently called go’el in the sense that He vindicates the rights of men and ransoms those who have come under the dominion of another (Isa. 41:14; 43:14; 44:24; 47:4; etc.).

Job has already expressed his desire to have an “umpire” between him and God (ch. 9:32-35). In ch. 16:19 he has declared his conviction that his “witness is in heaven.” In v. 21 of the same chapter he longs to have an advocate to plead his cause with God. In ch. 17:3 he calls upon God to be surety for him. Having recognized God as “umpire,” witness, advocate, surety, it is perfectly logical that he should arrive at the recognition of God as his redeemer. This text represents one of the OT revelations of God as man’s redeemer, a profound truth that was fully revealed to men in the person and mission of Jesus Christ.

The latter day. The meaning is that however long Job was to suffer, however protracted his calamities were, he had the utmost confidence that God would eventually vindicate him. The wording of vs. 25 and 26 indicates that the divine vindication would take place when God would “stand . . . upon the earth” and when Job would “see God.” This is an unmistakable glimpse of the resurrection.