Job 30:11-21

11 "Because He has loosed His bowstring and 1afflicted me, They have cast off 2the bridle before * me.
12 "On the right hand their brood arises; They 3thrust aside my feet 4and build up against me their ways of destruction.
13 "They 5break up my path, They profit from my destruction; No one restrains them.
14 "As through a wide breach they come, Amid the tempest they roll on.
15 "6Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed away 7like a cloud.
16 "And now 8my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have seized me.
17 "At night it pierces 9my bones within * me, And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 "By a great force my garment is 10distorted; It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 "He has cast me into the 11mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 "I 12cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 "You have become cruel to me; With the might of Your hand You 13persecute me.

Job 30:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 30

Job in this chapter sets forth his then unhappy state and condition, in contrast with his former state of prosperity described in the preceding chapter: things had taken a strange turn, and were just the reverse of what they were before; he that was before in such high esteem and credit with all sorts of men, young and old, high and low, rich and poor, now is had in derision by the meanest and basest of men, whose characters are described, Job 30:1-8; and the instances of their contempt of him by words and gestures are given, Job 30:9-14; he who enjoyed so much ease of mind, and health of body, is now filled with distresses of soul, and bodily diseases, Job 30:15-19; and he who enjoyed so much of the presence of God, and communion with him, and of his love and favour, was now disregarded, and, as he thought, cruelly used by him, who not only had destroyed his substance, but was about to bring him to the grave, Job 30:20-24; all which came upon him, though he had a sympathizing heart with the poor, and them that were in trouble, and when he expected better things, Job 30:25-28; and he close the chapter, lamenting his sad and sorrowful circumstances, Job 30:29-31.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Ruth 1:21; Psalms 88:7
  • 2. Psalms 32:9
  • 3. Psalms 140:4, 5
  • 4. Job 19:12
  • 5. Isaiah 3:12
  • 6. Job 3:25; Job 31:23; Psalms 55:3-5
  • 7. Job 7:9; Hosea 13:3
  • 8. 1 Samuel 1:15; Job 3:24; Psalms 22:14; Psalms 42:4; Isaiah 53:12
  • 9. Job 30:30
  • 10. Job 2:7
  • 11. Psalms 69:2, 14
  • 12. Job 19:7
  • 13. Job 10:3; Job 16:9, 14; Job 19:6, 22

Footnotes 11

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