What Does Job 22:19 Mean in the King James?
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The innocent’s laughter is the reversal made audible: the power that seemed untouchable is now an object of scorn.
THE MEANING
When wrongdoing’s collapse comes into view, the aligned recognize it and are glad; the clear person answers the fallen power with open scorn. The verse lets that laughter remain sharp, showing how radically the scene has turned.
THE ROOT
צַדִּיקִים
tsaddiqim
GROWS FROM
צדק
ts-d-q
Alignment, rightness, justice
“righteous” in this verse is tsaddiqim. The word holds a quality of alignment, not simply a claim to moral status. Here, that alignment sees what disorder loses and responds with gladness.
ALSO GROWS
tsedeq: Justice, rightness, alignment
צֶדֶק
The same root names the right order the righteous embody.
tsedaqah: Justice, alignment expressed in right action
צְדָקָה
The branch shows alignment as something visible in how life is ordered.
נָקִי
naqi
GROWS FROM
נקה
n-q-h
To be clean, clear, or free of guilt
The word pictures someone clear of guilt, not merely someone untouched by events. Its clean-and-clear root gives the innocent an uncluttered position from which to see the scene plainly.
ALSO GROWS
naqah: To be cleared or found free of guilt
נָקָה
Innocence and acquittal share the language of being clear.
niqqayon: Cleanness, innocence
נִקָּיוֹן
This noun makes the root’s sense of cleared hands explicit.
יִלְעַג
yilʿag
GROWS FROM
לעג
l-ʿ-g
To mock, deride, or ridicule
“laugh to scorn” in this verse is yilʿag. This verb names open derision, not a private smile. The laughter marks a reversal: those who once seemed imposing become objects of ridicule.
ALSO GROWS
laʿag: To mock or deride
לָעַג
Psalm 2:4 uses the same verb for derision directed at arrogant rulers.
laʿagu: They mocked
לָעֲגוּ
The form in Psalm 119:51 shows the root as ridicule openly aimed at someone.
THE PATTERN
When a destructive power falls into view, those aligned with what is right recognize the reversal and rejoice.
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.THE THREAD
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.The Hebrew repeats the same movements: רָאָה (raʾah, see), שָׂמַח (samach, rejoice), and צַדִּיק (tsaddiq, aligned or righteous). That shared wording makes the parallel exact: the righteous see the reversal and answer it with joy.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us