Job 19:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, Judea aptly represents the ‘tin tablet,’ having quickly received God’s commandments without effort and quickly lost them, whereas the ‘stone’ illustrates the Gentile world, who through much struggle managed to embrace the holy revelations and persevered in them steadfastly. The ‘iron stylus’ signifies nothing less than the formidable judgment of God. The prophet clearly states, The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron stylus upon a diamond point, Jeremiah 17:1. The human body ends in a claw, and a diamond is a hard substance that cannot easily be pierced by iron. Therefore, the 'iron stylus' denotes severe punishment, while the 'diamond point' signifies eternal punishment. The sinful state of Judah is recorded with ‘an iron stylus on a diamond point,’ indicating that the guilt of the Jews incurred a grave sentence from God, resulting in an unending conclusion.

Moreover, it is fitting to interpret the 'tin tablet' as depicting those overwhelmed by the burdens of greed, as expressed by the prophet's rebuke, O sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy? For tin, due to its weightiness, suggests a deeply set sin of greed that weighs down the soul, preventing it from aspiring towards higher things. Thus it is recorded by Zechariah, Lift up your eyes and see what is emerging. I asked, What is it? He replied, It is an ephah that emerges. And he said, It represents their visibility across the entire earth. A talent of lead ascended, and a woman sat in the center of the ephah. He said, This is wickedness; and he cast her into the center of the ephah, and laid a talent of lead upon her face or in her mouth. Zech. 5:5-8. As he describes the ephah, the woman, and the lead, he further clarifies what he witnessed: I lifted up my eyes and saw, behold, two women appeared, and the spirit was in their wings, for they had wings like a stork, and they lifted the ephah between earth and heaven. I asked the angel who spoke to me, Where are they taking this ephah? He replied, To build a house for her in the land of Shinar. Zech. 5:9-11. This prophetic testimony will lead to understanding only if we also clarify what these words imply. He instructs us to lift our eyes again and see what comes forward; the ephah symbolizes greed, demonstrating how this sin leads humanity away from God by depicting the wide-open mouth of greed that keeps the heart perpetually yearning and gaping. The expression, This is their eye throughout the whole earth, reveals the folly of many, engrossed in wrongdoings, as testified by the prophet, who states that they are wise in evil yet know nothing of good, Jeremiah 4:22. They are foolish in thought, lured by their covetous desires, blind to righteousness while pursuing swift rewards through wrongful actions. Thus, it is correctly noted that their greed is their sight throughout the world. Consequently, a talent of lead has been raised. What signifies a talent of lead, if not the burden of this very greed? And behold, a woman sat in the midst of the ephah. What was the identity of this woman? To dispel any doubt, the angel reveals immediately: This is wickedness; and she is cast into the center of the ephah. Wickedness is 'cast into the midst of the ephah' because it eternally resides within the state of greed. The entirety of the lead’s weight is imposed upon her face, symbolizing how the wickedness of greed is pressed down by its own burden; if not for the pursuit of earthly desires, he would not act with disrespect towards God or others.

Then I lifted up my eyes and saw: behold, two women appeared, and the spirit was in their wings. What do these two women represent, if not the chief vices of pride and vanity, which are undeniably interwoven in wickedness? They are depicted as having ‘a spirit in their wings,' for they heed the will of Satan in their endeavors; the prophet mentions ‘the spirit’ of the one from whom Solomon states, If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, Ecclesiastes 10:4, and of whom Christ speaks in the Gospel, When an unclean spirit departs from a man, it wanders through arid places, Matthew 12:43. Therefore, ‘they have the spirit in their wings’ as pride and vanity obediently follow the directives of Satan. ‘They had wings like the wings of a stork.’ A stork is known for attacking weaker birds. Thus, these women are portrayed as having ‘wings like the wings of a stork’ since their actions resemble those of the adversary, who constantly schemes against the least among us. They elevate the ephah between earth and heaven. Pride and vanity are aptly characterized as taking captive the mind and inflating it through the desire for status, prompting individuals to look down upon their companions in social standing and, having ensnared them, elevate them to heights of honor. Those lifted between earth and heaven may abandon lower pursuits, yet they cannot ascend far enough to attain the heights above.

These women, who ‘lift up the ephah between earth and heaven,’ represent pride and vanity, capturing the mind and exalting it through the allure of honor, leading individuals to disdain their neighbors while failing to reach the celestial realm. Thus, the ephah is termed ‘lifted up between earth and heaven,' as all who are consumed by greed, pride, and vanity look down upon their immediate peers while never advancing to the divine realm that lies above them. I asked the angel that spoke to me, Where are they carrying this ephah? He said, To make a dwelling for her in the land of Shinar. The ephah has a ‘house built for it in the land of Shinar,’ where ‘Shinar’ suggests ‘a pungent foul odor.’ Just as there is a pleasant aroma of virtue, as Paul declares, For we are the fragrance of Christ to God, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, the opposite holds true for vice, as covetousness is termed the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:10. It is evident then that the house of greed ought to be located in a place characterized by ill repute. Additionally, it is crucial to note that ‘Shinar’ refers to the vast plain where the Tower of Babel was constructed by individuals sunk into arrogance—a project that met its ruin after the confusion of tongues. This Tower bore the name Babel due to this very chaos, and it is fitting that the ‘ephah’ of greed resides in ‘Babylon’, representing disorder, as all evils stem from greed and malice, which rightly find their home in confusion.

We have articulated these thoughts succinctly to illustrate how the burden of sin is encapsulated in the phrase ‘tin tablet.’ Furthermore, the proclamations of blessed Job apply equally to the Holy Church, which, preserving both covenants of Divine Revelation, earnestly petitions for these words to be inscribed anew, proclaiming, Oh, if my words could be written down! Oh, if they were sealed in a book! Because she ardently addresses those weighed down by greed and those hardened in cruelty, she ‘writes with an iron stylus on a tin tablet,’ or indeed, on stone. It is also pertinent to fully recognize that blessed Job speaks on behalf of our Redeemer and His Church, often directly addressing Him, as it is essential for us to see Him manifested through His words. Now, let Him articulate clearly what He intends to convey to us, leaving no room for doubt in our understanding.