Job 29:9-19

9 "The princes 1stopped talking And 2put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voice of the nobles was 3hushed, And their 4tongue stuck to their palate.
11 "For when 5the ear heard, it called me blessed, And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,
12 Because I delivered 6the poor who cried for help, And the 7orphan who had no helper.
13 "The blessing of the one 8ready to perish came upon me, And I made the 9widow's heart sing for joy.
14 "I 10put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 "I was 11eyes to the blind And feet to the lame.
16 "I was a father to 12the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 "I 13broke the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 "Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 'My 14root is spread out to the waters, And 15dew lies all night on my branch.

Job 29:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 29

In this chapter Job gives an account of his former and wishes it was with him now as then; and which he describes with respect to his own person, and the favours he personally enjoyed, whether temporal or spiritual, Job 29:1-4; with respect to his family and domestic affairs, Job 29:5,6; with regard to the esteem he had from men of every age and station, Job 29:7-11; the reasons of which were the mercy and compassion he showed to the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, and the justice he administered in the execution of his office as a magistrate, Job 29:12-17; in which honour and prosperity he expected to have lived and died, Job 29:18-20; and which he further describes by the respect he had among men, and the power and authority he exercised over them, Job 29:21-25.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Job 29:21
  • 2. Job 21:5
  • 3. Job 29:22
  • 4. Psalms 137:6
  • 5. Job 4:3, 4
  • 6. Job 24:4, 9; Job 34:28; Psalms 72:12; Proverbs 21:13
  • 7. Job 31:17, 21
  • 8. Job 31:19
  • 9. Job 22:9
  • 10. Job 27:5, 6; Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 59:17; Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 6:14
  • 11. Numbers 10:31
  • 12. Job 24:4; Proverbs 29:7
  • 13. Psalms 3:7
  • 14. Jeremiah 17:8
  • 15. Hosea 14:5

Footnotes 3

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