Job 14:17

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Job addresses God directly in a moment of desperate hope, placing this request immediately after pleading for divine patience regarding his sins and before describing the inevitable erosion of the natural world.

The words — חָתֻם (cha.Tum) denotes something sealed up, while בִּצְרוֹר (bi-tzror) literally means inside a bag or pouch.

The thread — The imagery of sealed or stored transgression appears in Deuteronomy 32:34, Hosea 13:12, and Job 21:19.

Why it lands — The text states that God would hide Job’s guilt rather than record it, demanding the reader confront the reality of divine judgment while recognizing that mercy remains the only refuge from accumulated guilt.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

חָתֻ֣םcha.Tum[will be] sealed up בִּצְר֣וֹרbi/tz.Rorin/ a bag פִּשְׁעִ֑יpish.'/Itransgression/ my וַ֝תִּטְפֹּ֗לva./tit.Poland/ you have smeared עַל־'al-over עֲוֹנִֽי׃'a.vo.N/iiniquity/ my

King James Version

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 32:34 “Have I not stored up these things, sealed up within My vaults?
Hosea 13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
Job 21:19 It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.