Job 30:1-10

1 “But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?
3 Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed[a] the parched land in desolate wastelands at night.
4 In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food[b] was the root of the broom bush.
5 They were banished from human society, shouted at as if they were thieves.
6 They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.
7 They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth.
8 A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land.
9 “And now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.
10 They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

Job 30:1-10 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 17

  • 1. S Job 6:14; S Job 11:3; S Psalms 119:21; Job 12:4
  • 2. Isaiah 56:10
  • 3. Isaiah 8:21
  • 4. Job 24:5
  • 5. Jeremiah 17:6
  • 6. Job 39:6
  • 7. S 1 Kings 19:4
  • 8. Isaiah 2:19; Hosea 10:8
  • 9. Job 6:5
  • 10. Job 39:5-6
  • 11. S Judges 9:4
  • 12. S Job 18:18
  • 13. S Job 16:10; Psalms 69:11
  • 14. Job 12:4; Lamentations 3:14,63
  • 15. S Job 17:6
  • 16. Job 19:19
  • 17. Numbers 12:14; S Deuteronomy 25:9; Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67

Footnotes 2

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