Job 30:29

29 I howl with the jackals, I hoot with the owls.

Job 30:29 Meaning and Commentary

Job 30:29

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
] Or ostriches, as the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; either he was obliged to dwell with such persons as were comparable to these creatures for their devouring words, hissing noise, and venomous speeches, or for want of compassion, and for their cruelty, as David is said to be among lions, ( Psalms 57:4 ) ; or also, he was like unto them, being solitary and alone, all his friends and acquaintance standing at a distance from him, as these creatures love lonesome and desolate places; or because of the wailing and howling noise they make, to which his mournful notes bore some resemblance, (See Gill on Micah 1:8); or because, when these creatures cry and howl, and make a noise, no mercy is shown to them, none pities or regards them; and so it was with him; though he stood and cried in ever so public a manner, none had any compassion on him.

Job 30:29 In-Context

27 My stomach's in a constant churning, never settles down. Each day confronts me with more suffering.
28 I walk under a black cloud. The sun is gone. I stand in the congregation and protest.
29 I howl with the jackals, I hoot with the owls.
30 I'm black and blue all over, burning up with fever.
31 My fiddle plays nothing but the blues; my mouth harp wails laments.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.