Job 30:9

9 And now, their song I have been, And I am to them for a byword.

Job 30:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 30:9

And now am I their song
The subject of their song, of whom they sung ballads about the streets, in public places, and at their festivals and merriments, as Christ the antitype of Job was the song of the drunkard, ( Psalms 69:12 ) ; see ( Lamentations 3:14 ) ; or the meaning may be, they rejoiced in his afflictions and calamities, and made themselves merry with them, which was cruel and inhuman, as David's enemies did in his, and those abject, mean, base people, like those that derided Job: and so the Edomites rejoiced over the children of Judah, in the day of their destruction, and as the inhabitants of Popish countries will rejoice over the witnesses when slain, and make merry, ( Psalms 35:15 Psalms 35:16 ) ( Obadiah 1:12 ) ( Revelation 11:9 Revelation 11:10 ) ;

yea, I am their byword:
all their talk was about him continually, and at every turn would use his name proverbially for an hypocrite, or a wicked man; and thus Christ, of whom Job was a type, became a proverb in the mouth of the Jews, ( Psalms 69:11 ) ; and as the Jews themselves now are with others, ( Jeremiah 24:9 ) .

Job 30:9 In-Context

7 Among shrubs they do groan, Under nettles they are gathered together.
8 Sons of folly -- even sons without name, They have been smitten from the land.
9 And now, their song I have been, And I am to them for a byword.
10 They have abominated me, They have kept far from me, And from before me have not spared to spit.
11 Because His cord He loosed and afflicteth me, And the bridle from before me, They have cast away.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.