Job 30:4-14

4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And whose food is the root of the broom shrub.
5 "They are driven from the community; They shout against them as against a thief,
6 So that they dwell in dreadful valleys, In holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 "Among the bushes they cry out; Under the nettles they are gathered together.
8 "Fools *, even those without a name, They were scourged from the land.
9 "And now I have become their 1taunt, I have even become a 2byword to them.
10 "They abhor me and stand aloof from me, And they do not refrain from 3spitting at my face.
11 "Because He has loosed His bowstring and 4afflicted me, They have cast off 5the bridle before * me.
12 "On the right hand their brood arises; They 6thrust aside my feet 7and build up against me their ways of destruction.
13 "They 8break 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.

Job 30:4-14 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 8

  • 1. Job 12:4
  • 2. Job 17:6; Psalms 69:11; Lamentations 3:14, 63
  • 3. Numbers 12:14; Deuteronomy 25:9; Job 17:6; Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67
  • 4. Ruth 1:21; Psalms 88:7
  • 5. Psalms 32:9
  • 6. Psalms 140:4, 5
  • 7. Job 19:12
  • 8. Isaiah 3:12

Footnotes 13

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