For I know that my Redeemer lives: the word translated Redeemer is the Hebrew goʾel, and it is found only here in the Book of Job. An Revised Standard Version footnote has “Vindicator” as an alternative translation. In other parts of the Old Testament the word has a variety of meanings. In such passages as 2 Samuel 14.11 it means “avenger of blood,” who is a kinsmen who avenges his dead relative. In Ruth 4.4-6 it is the relative who buys back the property of the dead man. In Numbers 5.8 he is the one to whom restitution is made (payment made in case of guilt). The term is applied to God as the one who delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exo 6.6) and from exile (Jer 50.34). In Psalm 103.4 God is the one who “redeems your life from the pit.” In the context of this verse in Job, Redeemer means generally “defender, protector, helper” and more specifically “the one who wins my case” or “the one who stands up for me in court.” Job is saying again that the one who will defend him in his argument or lawsuit with God “lives.” As Rowley says, Job is not asking God to rescue him from Sheol. That would be the task of a “deliverer.” Job wants his name and honor vindicated. He wants everyone, now and in the future, to know that he was innocent of wrongdoing. His vindicator, defender, is the one who will do this for him.

A much debated question is the identity of Job’s goʾel. For every argument that concludes that it is God, there is an equally good argument that it is not. Habel suggests that the obvious resolution of the identity of the Redeemer lies in relating verse 25 to 16.19, and so Good News Translation “I know there is someone in heaven … to my defense.” Good News Translation makes use of the same wording as in 16.19. However, Good News Translation does not thereby resolve the question (nor need it do so) whether “someone in heaven” means God or a third party. Many modern translations which assume it is God do this by spelling with an initial capital, and so “Defender, Vindicator, Redeemer.” Translators who assume Job has a third party in mind will usually spell with a lowercase initial letter.

This Handbook recommends the use of “defender, vindicator, helper.” However, if the translator prefers to indicate that this refers to God, there is a strong body of translations to support that. Translators should bear in mind that people hearing the Scriptures read do not know if a word is capitalized or not. In writing systems which do not use capitals letters, the problem is irrelevant. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes the identification with God explicit: “I know that God, my advocate, lives.” Vindicator may be rendered, for example, “The one who proves I am innocent” or “The person who defends my right.” In any case “defender” and Redeemer are used in almost the same way in this context. In some languages it may be better to say, as Bible en français courant does, “I know, myself, that I have a living defender.”

And at last he will stand upon the earth: just as with the first line, interpreters come to totally different meanings for this line. Revised Standard Version and others make at last an expression of time, meaning “finally, in the end.” Not so, argues Dhorme, who sees “The First and the Last” as titles for God, as used in Isaiah 44.6; 48.12; and so he translates “And then, as the Last, he will arise on the earth.” Translators differ most concerning at last and will stand upon the earth. Bible de Jérusalem follows Dhorme “he, the last, will stand….” Moffatt shifts at last to line a, “I know One to champion me at last.” However, many modern translations understand at last to be used adverbially, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Earth translates the Hebrew “dust,” and so some take it to refer to the grave, as in the New International Version footnote, “Or, upon my grave.” Most scholars, however, agree that stand upon the earth is a courtroom expression used to mean “to take the stand as a witness” in 31.14; Deuteronomy 19.16; Psalm 12.5; Isaiah 19.21. It is in this sense that Good News Translation renders “come to my defense.” New English Bible translates this line “and that he will rise last to speak in court.” The thought is that he will have the final word; thus Bible en français courant translates “and that he will have the final word on this earth.” Translators may follow either interpretation; for example, “I know that he will have the final word,” meaning that his decision will be final, authoritative, and with no further recourse. Or one may say, for example, “he will be my lawyer in this final court” or “he will take the stand finally for me on this earth.”

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 .