Albert Barnes Commentary Job 19:23

"Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!" — Job 19:23 (ASV)

Oh that my words were now written! — Margin, as in Hebrew, "Who will give;" a common way of expressing desire among the Hebrews. This expression of desire introduces one of the most important passages in the book of Job.

It is the language of a man who felt that injustice was done to him by his friends and that he was unlikely to receive justice from that generation. He was charged with hypocrisy, his motives were questioned, and his solemn appeals and arguments to assert his innocence were disregarded. In this state of mind, he expresses the earnest wish that his words might be permanently recorded and passed down to distant future times.

He desired that what he had said might be preserved, so that future ages could judge between him and his accusers and understand the justice of his cause.

This expressed desire has been granted, and a more permanent record has been made than if, in accordance with his request, his sentiments had been engraved on lead or stone.

Oh that they were printed! — It is clear that this expression can convey a wholly erroneous idea. The art of "printing" was then unknown, and the passage has no allusion to that art.

The original word (חקק, châqaq) properly means to cut in or to hew. It then came to mean to cut—for example, a sepulchre in a rock (Isaiah 22:16)—or to cut or engrave letters on a tablet of lead or stone (Isaiah 30:8; Ezekiel 4:1). Generally, it implies the idea of engraving or inscribing on a plate with an engraving tool.

Anciently, books were made of materials that allowed for this method of making a record. Stone was likely the first material, followed by plates of metal, leaves, bark, skins, and so on. The idea of engraving, however, is the correct one here.

In a book — (בספר, b^esêpher). The word ספר (sêpher) is derived from ספר (sâphar). In Arabic, the related word shafar means to scratch or to scrape, and therefore to engrave, write, or record. The idea was originally that of insculping or engraving on a stone. Hence, the word came to denote a book, of any materials or made in any form.

Pliny, speaking of the materials of ancient books, says, Olim in palmarum foliis scriptitatum, et libris quarundam arborum; postea publica monumenta plumbeis voluminibus, mox et privata linteis confici coepta aut ceris (Pliny, Book 13, Chapter 11). He states: "At first men wrote on the leaves of the palm, or the bark of certain trees; but afterward public documents were preserved in leaden volumes (or rolls), and those of a private nature on wax or linen."

Montfaucon purchased an ancient book in Rome in 1699 that was entirely composed of lead. It was about four inches long and three inches wide. Not only were the two pieces forming the cover and the six leaves made of lead, but also the stick inserted through the rings to hold the leaves together, as well as the hinges and nails. It contained Egyptian Gnostic figures and unintelligible writing.

Brass, being more durable, was used for inscriptions designed to last the longest, such as treaties, laws, and alliances. These public documents, however, were usually written on large tablets. "The style for writing on brass and other hard substances was sometimes tipped with diamond."

The meaning of the word here is evidently a record made on stone or lead—as the following verses indicate. The art of writing or engraving was known in the time of Job, but I do not know of any evidence that the art of writing on leaves, bark, or vellum was yet understood.

Books in their current form were unknown then. There is no evidence that anything like volumes or rolls were possessed at that time. Records were probably preserved on tablets of stone or lead. The entire description here pertains to something engraved. Furthermore, this meaning is conveyed by the Arabic verb from which the word ספר (sêpher)—book—is derived. Therefore, the word 'tablet,' or a similar word, better expresses the original meaning than 'book.' For this reason, I have used 'tablet' in the translation.

Assyrian records are generally found on stone or clay. The latter, being more easily and speedily engraved with a triangular instrument, was more frequently employed.

1. An Assyrian terra-cotta cylinder from Khorsabad contains the annals of the reign of Sargon. It is dated about 721 B.C.
2. A hexagonal terra cotta cylinder from Koyunjik contains the annals of the first eight years of the reign of Sennacherib (702 to 694 B.C.), with an account of the expedition against Hezekiah.
3. The inscription shows Assyrian scribes making notes of prisoners, heads of the slain, spoils, and so on. It comes from Koyunjik.