Job 30:28

28 I go about in gloom, without any sunshine; I stand up in public and plead 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 I hoped for happiness and light, but trouble and darkness came instead.
27 I am torn apart by worry and pain; I have had day after day of suffering.
28 I go about in gloom, without any sunshine; I stand up in public and plead for help.
29 My voice is as sad and lonely as the cries of a jackal or an ostrich.
30 My skin has turned dark; I am burning with fever.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.