Job 6:18

18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.

Job 6:18 in Other Translations

18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.

18 The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die.

18 Travelers who spot them and go out of their way for a drink, end up in a waterless gulch and die of thirst.

18 Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish.

Job 6:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:18

The paths of their way are turned aside
That is, the waters, when melted by the heat of the sun, and the warmth of the weather, run, some one way, and some another in little streams and windings, till they are quite lost and the tracks of them are no more to be seen; denoting that all appearance of friendship was quite gone, and no traces of it to be found:

they go to nothing, and perish:
some of them are lost in little meanders and windings about, and others are exhaled by the heat of the sun, and go into "Tohu", as the word is, into empty air; so vain and empty, and perishing, were all the comforts he hoped for from his friends; though some understand this of the paths of travellers in the deserts being covered in the sand, and not to be seen and found; of which see Pliny ^F26.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29.

Job 6:18 In-Context

16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,

17 but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.

18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.