Job 6:17

17 In the time wherein they be scattered, they shall perish; and when they shall wax hot, they shall be loosed from their place.

Job 6:17 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:17

What time they wax warm they vanish
The ice and the snow, which, when the weather becomes warm, they melt away and disappear; and in like manner, he suggests his friends ceased to be friends to him in a time of adversity; the sun of affliction having looked upon him, they deserted him, at least did not administer comfort to him:

when it is hot they are consumed out of their place;
when it is hot weather, and the sun has great strength then the waters, which swelled through the floods and fall of rain and snow, and which when frozen, looked black and big as if they had great depth in them, were quickly dried up, and no more to be seen in the place where they were; which still expresses the short duration of friendship among men, which Job had a sorrowful experience of.

Job 6:17 In-Context

15 My brethren passed from me, as a strand doeth, that passeth (by) rushingly in great valleys. (My brothers, that is, my kinsmen, have passed by me, like a stream doeth, which rusheth through great valleys.)
16 Snow shall come upon them, that dread frost.
17 In the time wherein they be scattered, they shall perish; and when they shall wax hot, they shall be loosed from their place.
18 The paths of their steps be (en)wrapped; they shall go in vain, and shall perish.
19 Behold ye the paths of Tema, and the ways of Sheba; and abide ye a little.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.