What belief does Job refer to in Job 19:25?

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   Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
   Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
   For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
   And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
   whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
   —Job 19:23-27 (ESV)

Job says that his Redeemer will stand upon the earth. The coming physical arrival of God on Earth is a common Christian belief. But I'm not aware of any such belief being common among Jews, Hebrews, or other pre-Christian Yahwistic religious groups. Is there some other context for this statement? Is he speaking idiomatically? Does Job have some direct revelation from God on the matter?


Adam Kadmon (as taught by the rabbis) is both Divine Light and Man. This is also the claim of the Christian Messiah. (See John 1:1-4.)

It is he that will fully reveal God to man. Another claim of Jesus. "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father".

It is not common among Jews since it is only taught to faithful Jewish men over the age of 40. Job indicates a knowledge of the teaching.

There are variant teachings about Adam Kadmon, I use Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh for my research.

Although Adam Kadmon does not appear in the Biblical text, the question is if Hebrew Job could possibly believe that his redeemer would walk on the earth. Since modern Jews attribute the teaching of Adam Kadmon to ancient sources, the answer is Yes.