And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

JOB 17:15KJV
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Job 17:15 (KJV)

What does Job 17:15 mean?

Job 17:15 gives voice to Job’s struggle to find any prospect of relief. His two questions express how far away hope seems in the middle of his suffering, as he asks where it can be found and who might see it.

Job is speaking amid a difficult exchange with his friends. After describing the grave as his house in verse 13, he speaks of hope as though it were something a person might locate or see. The second question turns outward: can anyone else recognize a reason for Job to hope?

The Hebrew behind Job 17:15

  • “hope” — תִּקְוָה (tiqvah): The word often means an expectation or prospect. Its repetition gives Job’s questions a single focus: whether any prospect remains visible.
  • “see” — שׁוּר (shur): The word can mean to look at or observe. Job’s question asks whether a supposed hope is evident to any observer, not merely whether someone can name a hopeful idea.

Why Job 17:15 matters

  • Job’s questions challenge the hopeful advice around him. In verse 12, he describes others as presenting light as near, while he asks in verse 15 where his hope actually is.
  • Job’s words belong to a passage shaped by thoughts of death. His reference to the grave in verse 13 gives weight to his question: he is looking for hope while expecting his life to end.

Where else these words appear

“now” Hebrew H645 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 27:33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
  • Judges 9:38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
  • Job 24:25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

“see” Hebrew H7789 · used in 16 verses

  • Numbers 23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
  • Job 33:14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
  • Job 35:14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

“hope” Hebrew H8615 · used in 33 verses

  • Joshua 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
  • Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
  • Proverbs 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.