Job 29:16-25

16 "I was a father to ¹the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know.

17 "I ²broke 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 ³root is spread out to the waters, And ⁴dew lies all night on my branch.

20 'My glory is ever new with me, And my ⁵bow is renewed in my hand.'

21 "To me ⁶they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel.

22 "After my words they did not ⁷speak again, And ⁸my speech dropped on them.

23 "They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.

24 "I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down.

25 "I chose a way for them and sat as ⁹chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who ¹⁰comforted the mourners.

Job 29:16-25 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

• 1. Job 24:4; Proverbs 29:7
• 2. Psalms 3:7
• 3. Jeremiah 17:8
• 4. Hosea 14:5
• 5. Genesis 49:24; Psalms 18:34
• 6. Job 4:3; Job 29:9
• 7. Job 29:10
• 8. Deuteronomy 32:2
• 9. Job 1:3; Job 31:37
• 10. Job 4:4; Job 16:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "said"
• [b]. Lit "with"