“Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job isn't just asking for someone to guarantee his innocence; he's appealing to God to literally put up a bond with Himself on Job's behalf. He's demanding a divine agreement, a pledge from God to God, that his righteous cause will ultimately be upheld, knowing that no mere human could ever fulfill such a role.
“Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job is deeply distressed, feeling abandoned by God and misunderstood by his friends who are accusing him of hidden sin. He cries out to God, asking for a pledge or assurance that God will truly hear and vindicate him, since none of his friends are willing or able to stand as his surety in this divine trial.
In the depths of his suffering, Job feels utterly alone. He turns to his friends for help, but they offer no comfort, no assurance. Where does he turn next?
Job's friends have proven unhelpful, offering accusations instead of solace. He feels abandoned and desperate for justice. In this moment, Job makes a bold request: he asks God Himself to act as his surety. This isn't a demand, but an earnest plea rooted in the belief that only God can truly guarantee a just outcome.
Think of it like this: In ancient legal settings, a surety or guarantor was someone who pledged to ensure an agreement or judgment was upheld. Job is asking God to step into the courtroom, not just as the judge, but as the one who will personally guarantee that Job's innocence will be recognized and vindicated. It's a profound statement of faith in God's character, even when circumstances seem to scream the opposite.
Job asks, 'Who is there who will put up security for me?' What ancient custom lies behind this seemingly simple question?
The phrase 'strike hands' refers to a significant ancient practice symbolizing the sealing of a contract or agreement. When two parties struck hands, they were formally pledging their commitment and entering into a binding obligation.
For Job, asking 'Who is there who will strike hands with me?' underscores his isolation. His friends, who should have offered support, are unwilling or unable to make such a pledge. He's looking for someone to literally 'put their hand to it,' to commit themselves to his cause. Ultimately, he directs this question to God, implicitly asking who else but God Himself could possibly offer such a guarantee.
Understand the original words
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arab · Hebrew Noun
A token, deposit, or surety given to guarantee a promise or a debt. It functions as a legal mechanism to ensure faithfulness or repayment.
taqa · Hebrew Noun
A guarantee or bond provided to ensure someone's appearance or fulfillment of a legal obligation. It represents the need for a mediator or advocate.
This passage directly parallels Job's plea, with Hezekiah crying out to God, 'O Lord, I am oppressed: undertake for me,' echoing Job's desperate need for God to act as his surety.
Hebrews 7:22This New Testament verse explicitly identifies Jesus as the 'surety of a better covenant,' providing a profound theological fulfillment to Job's longing for a divine guarantor of his cause.
Psalm 119:122This psalm expresses a similar desire for divine security, with the psalmist praying, 'Be surety for thy servant for good,' highlighting the consistent human need for God's guarantee.
Proverbs 6:1This proverb describes the act of 'striking hands' as a confirmation of suretyship, shedding light on the legal and relational implications of Job's desperate request for a divine pledge.
Romans 8:33This passage powerfully answers Job's unspoken question, 'Who can condemn?' by proclaiming that no one can lay anything to the charge of God's elect, especially when God Himself, through Christ, is our advocate.
clarkeJob 17:3: "Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?"
Lay down now - Deposit a pledge; stake your conduct against mine, and your life and soul on the issue; let the cause come before God, let him try it; and see whether any of you shall be justified by him, while I am condemned.
bensonJob 17:3: "Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?"
Job 17:3 . Lay down now — Some earnest or pledge. Put me in a surety with thee — Let me have an assurance that God will take the hearing and determining of the cause into his own hands, and I desire no more. Who is he that will strike hands with me? — That is, agree and promise, or be surety to me, whereof striking or joining hands was the usual sign. But, probably, we ought rather to consider Job…
Job isn't just asking for someone to guarantee his innocence; he's appealing to God to literally put up a bond with Himself on Job's behalf. He's demanding a divine agreement, a pledge from God to God, that his righteous cause will ultimately be upheld, knowing that no mere human could ever fulfill such a role.
Job is deeply distressed, feeling abandoned by God and misunderstood by his friends who are accusing him of hidden sin. He cries out to God, asking for a pledge or assurance that God will truly hear and vindicate him, since none of his friends are willing or able to stand as his surety in this divine trial.
Job is deeply distressed, feeling abandoned by God and misunderstood by his friends who are accusing him of hidden sin. He cries out to God, asking for a pledge or assurance that God will truly hear and vindicate him, since none of his friends are willing or able to stand as his surety in this divine trial.
"“Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?" — Job isn't just asking for someone to guarantee his innocence; he's appealing to God to literally put up a bond with Himself on Job's behalf. He's demanding a divine agreement, a pledge from God to Go…
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Last reviewed October 2026