Job 6:19

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

Job 6:19 in Other Translations

KJV
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
ESV
19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.
NLT
19 The caravans from Tema search for this water; the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
MSG
19 Merchant caravans from Tema see them and expect water, tourists from Sheba hope for a cool drink.
CSB
19 The caravans of Tema look [for these streams]. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

Job 6:19 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:19

The troops of Tema looked
A city in Arabia, so called from Tema a son of Ishmael, ( Genesis 25:15 ) ; these troops or companies were travelling ones, either that travelled to Tema, or that went from thence to other places for merchandise, see ( Isaiah 21:13 Isaiah 21:14 ) ; these, as they passed along in their caravans, as the Turks their successors now do, looked at those places where in the wintertime they observed large waters frozen over, and covered with snow, and expected to have been supplied from thence in the summer season, for the extinguishing of their thirst:

the companies of Sheba waited for them:
another people in Arabia, which went in companies through the deserts, where being in great want of water for their refreshment, waited patiently till they came to those places, where they hoped to find water to relieve them, which they had before marked in the wintertime.

Job 6:19 In-Context

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.
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 25:15; Isaiah 21:14
  • 2. S Genesis 10:7,28
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