Job 30:28

28 I 1go about darkened, but not by the sun; I stand up in 2the assembly and cry for help.

Job 30:28 Meaning and Commentary

Job 30:28

I went mourning without the sun
So overwhelmed with grief, that he refused to have any comfort from, or any advantage by the sun; hence Mr. Broughton renders it, "out of the sun"; he did not choose to walk in the sunshine, but out of it, to indulge his grief and sorrow the more; or he went in black attire, and wrapped and covered himself with it, that he might not see the sun, or receive any relief by it: or "I go black, [but] not by the sun" F17; his face and his skin were black, but not through the sun looking upon him and discolouring him, as in ( Song of Solomon 1:6 ) ; but through the force of his disease, which had changed his complexion, and made him as black as a Kedarene, or those that dwell in the tents of Kedar, ( Song of Solomon 1:5 ) ; and he also walked without the sun of righteousness arising on him, with healing in his wings, which was worst of all:

I stood up, [and] I cried in the congregation:
either in the congregation of the saints met together for religious worship, where he cried unto God for help and deliverance, and for the light of his countenance, ( Job 30:20 ) ; or such was the extreme anguish of his soul, that when a multitude of people got about him to see him in his distressed condition, he could not contain himself, but burst out before them in crying and tears, though he knew it was unbecoming a man of his age and character; or he could not content himself to stay within doors and soothe his grief, but must go abroad and in public, and there expressed with strong cries and tears his miserable condition.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hmx alb) "non propter solem", Vatablus; "non a sole", Junius & Tremellius, Drusius, Mercerus; "non ob solem", Piscator.

Job 30:28 In-Context

26 But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My inward parts are in turmoil and never still; days of affliction come to meet me.
28 I go about darkened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 38:6; Psalms 42:9; Psalms 43:2
  • 2. Proverbs 26:26
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.