Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven: Job does not name his witness as God, but many interpreters take it in that sense. Even now translates an expression meaning “right now, at this very time,” referring to the present time while Job is suffering, and so “Right now while all this is happening to me.” Behold calls special attention to what follows, but is often best left untranslated in English. Pope does not think my witness can refer to God, who is already seen by Job as accuser, judge, and executioner. Gordis sees no problem in Job’s oriental logic, in which God can be seen as both judge and witness at the same time. The idea is that, while God has caused Job’s suffering, Job still retains trust in the God of righteousness and love. Habel takes the position that the witness is a third party, a counterpart to the Satan of 2.3, a lawyer who can act to defend Job in the heavenly council. The interpretation of this verse is linked to 19.25. Taken as a whole it seems best to follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and not identify my witness explicitly with God. The clause may also be expressed “there is someone in heaven who will testify in my favor,” “somebody in heaven will stand up for me,” or “a witness is in heaven who will speak for me and defend me.”

And he that vouches for me is on high: this line repeats the previous line but substitutes an Aramaic word for “witness.” In this context line b may be used as a parallel line to confirm what was said in line a, but which does not really go beyond line a; for example, “Yes, it is true that up there is one who will say I am right.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .